[Hypertension in children and adolescents]

Normal blood pressure and hypertension were defined according to age and sex based on the data on Japanese children. When high blood pressure is found, both white-coat and secondary hypertension should be excluded. Subsequently lifestyle modifications should be initiated in children and adolescents with essential hypertension. These modifications include: weight reduction, reduction of dietary salt intake, high dietary potassium intake and increased physical activity. When nonpharmacologic treatment is not effective after 3 to 6 months, or when there is an evidence of target organ injury, antihypertensive drugs such as ACE inhibitors and Ca antagonists will be started to control blood pressure. Lifestyle modifications are also important for primary prevention of hypertension in normotensive children.