Abstract
Hypertension is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular and renal diseases. The prevalence of hypertension in childhood is about 1 %.
Secondary hypertension (renal, endocrine, cardiovascular) is more frequent than primary hypertension, however, in adolescents primary form already prevails. Each child with hypertension has to be carefully investigated, the extent of the investigations depends on the age of the child and severity of hypertension, however, all children must have basal investigations (urine, blood, renal ultrasound and echocardiography).
Treatment of hypertension is non-pharmacological and pharmacological (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers) in case of symptomatic hypertension, secondary hypertension or signs of target organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy or microalbuminuria.