Hypoxia is the most common cause of which events in children?

• A. Bradycardia and cardiac arrest
• B. Seizures
• C. Hypertension
• D. Tachypnea

Answer: (A)

Hypoxia from respiratory failure is the most common trigger for cardiac deterioration in children. As oxygen delivery falls, the heart’s response often progresses to bradycardia due to increased vagal tone and worsening perfusion, which can quickly lead to cardiac arrest. In pediatric patients, arrests are frequently of respiratory origin, so bradycardia preceding arrest is characteristic. Tachypnea is a sign of hypoxia, not the event itself, and seizures or hypertension are less commonly the primary events that follow hypoxia.