Pediatric electrocardiograms for the general practitioner: The importance of the T-wave

Electrocardiograms may be used to screen for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children. Many forms of CVD that predispose to sudden cardiac death are associated with T-wave abnormalities in childhood. The T-wave is generated during ventricular repolarization. T-waves on an electrocardiogram typically undergo maturational changes throughout childhood and adolescence. A pediatric practitioner’s ability to understand these changes is required to understand abnormal T-waves and recognize potentially life-threatening types of CVD. This review article uses a series of illustrative cases to highlight CVD associated with T-wave abnormalities in childhood.