Which data in an 18-month-old should prompt further evaluation for hypertension?

Which data in an 18-month-old should prompt further evaluation for hypertension?

• A. Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg
• B. Heart rate 110 bpm
• C. Respirations 22/min
• D. Temperature 37°C

Answer: (A)

In children, hypertension is defined by blood pressure percentiles that account for age, sex, and height, and a reading that falls well above those percentiles should trigger further evaluation. For an 18-month-old, a systolic value around 120 mm Hg is substantially higher than expected and likely above the 95th percentile, so it warrants additional assessment to confirm persistent hypertension and explore possible secondary causes. Other vital signs listed—heart rate about 110 bpm, respirations around 22 per minute, and temperature near 37°C—fall within typical pediatric ranges and do not by themselves indicate hypertension. Therefore, the elevated blood pressure reading is the data that prompts further evaluation.

In children, hypertension is defined by blood pressure percentiles that account for age, sex, and height, and a reading that falls well above those percentiles should trigger further evaluation. For an 18-month-old, a systolic value around 120 mm Hg is substantially higher than expected and likely above the 95th percentile, so it warrants additional assessment to confirm persistent hypertension and explore possible secondary causes. Other vital signs listed—heart rate about 110 bpm, respirations around 22 per minute, and temperature near 37°C—fall within typical pediatric ranges and do not by themselves indicate hypertension. Therefore, the elevated blood pressure reading is the data that prompts further evaluation.