Hypertension among Nigerian children

ABSTRACT

A prospective study on hypertension in childhood among Nigerian children was carried out in five centres. Four hundred and four children had complete data and were admitted into this study; out of which 226 (55.9 per cent) were males and 173 (44.1 per cent) were females. Twenty-two of the children examined were hypertensive with blood pressure more than 120/80mmHg; which was maximal in the age range 10-12 years. Females were more affected than males. Thirty-six of the children have their systolic blood pressure above 140mmHg