Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Childhood: An Overview

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) and Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) are uncommon in childhood. The etiology is broad vary by age and may have a familial or genetic component. Although, SCD/SCA can occur without warning, a prodrome may be present. The primary care physician should be able to recognize “red flags” as investigation is essential. Further, models of preventive strategies are limited. We provide an overview of the epidemiology, etiology, risk stratification and prevention of SCA/SCD.