[Blood pressure measurement in children; strongly varying in quality and interpretation]

An inquiry was held among a randomly selected group of 100 school doctors in order to gain an impression of the blood pressure measuring and of the criteria for the diagnosis of hypertension in the practice of child health care. The response was 62%. The results show that there are great differences in measuring methods and in the interpretation of the blood pressure readings. Because the responders may form a group of school doctors with a special interest in hypertension, the results deserve attention. The relatively high prevalence of hypertension (0.5-3%) in the young justifies regular measurements of the blood pressure. More than the general practitioner and the paediatrician, the school doctor can contribute to the prevention and early detection of hypertension. The quality of the measurement and the interpretation of the recordings are important in view of the consequences of hypertension.