Objective:

To determine the prevalence and spectrum of diseases that predispose to sudden cardiac death in Mexican children, and to identify the main early signs and symptoms that can enable the health personnel to suspect these diseases and to refer the patients to a tertiary hospital in a timely manner.

Methods:

Incidence, prevalence, and period prevalence, as well as early symptoms, clinical data, and follow-up were recorded on all children found with diseases that predispose to sudden cardiac death in The Children’s Hospital of Mexico.

Results:

The study included 59 patients, with a mean age of 8 ± 5 years old, with 40 cardiomyopathies, and 19 with inherited arrhythmogenic diseases. The period prevalence was 9.5/1,000 patients/year. The most common early symptoms were dyspnoea, palpitations, and syncope. A Mendelian inheritance pattern was found in 9 cases. Three patients died of sudden cardiac death during the period of the study.

Conclusion:

Diseases that predispose to sudden cardiac death in children are not very well known by the general medical community. Every child with dyspnoea, palpitations and/or syncope, should be referred for the intensive search of these diseases. A complete cardiological evaluation in all members of the family is indicated.