Pediatric cardiac disorders.

Although pediatric cardiac disorders are not commonly seen in the Emergency Department, they are important to identify to prevent further morbidity or mortality. Diagnosis may be complicated by the lack of classic complaints such as chest pain or palpitations that are commonly associated with cardiac disorders. In fact, presenting complaints associated with pediatric cardiac disorders, like "fussiness" or "difficulty feeding," may seem quite nonspecific. This article reviews pertinent issues concerning diagnosis and management of pediatric cardiac disorders including supraventricular tachycardia, congenital heart disease, prolonged QT syndrome, pericarditis, myocarditis, rheumatic fever, and endocarditis. It also reviews abnormal findings in pediatric electrocardiograms.