What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in infants and children?

• A. Sudden heart attack
• B. Drowning
• C. Loss of breathing
• D. Severe trauma

Answer: (C)

In infants and children, cardiac arrest is most often caused by respiratory problems that lead to oxygen deprivation rather than a primary heart problem. The heart in kids is usually structurally normal, so when breathing stops or the airway is obstructed, oxygen delivery to tissues falls quickly and the heart can no longer sustain a heartbeat. That’s why loss of breathing is the initiating event that leads to cardiac arrest in the pediatric population. Sudden heart attacks are rare in children, and severe trauma can cause arrest but is less common than respiratory failure. Drowning involves respiratory compromise as well, but the underlying issue remains loss of breathing, which then progresses to cardiac arrest. This is why emergency care for children focuses on securing the airway and providing effective ventilation first.