Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in infants and children.

Sixty-two infants and children with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) were under long-term follow-up at The New York Hospital over a 20-year period. Twenty had associated congenital heart disease. In 29 infants and 6 children in hospitalfor paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, digitalis relieved the episodes in all but one instance and prevented further recurrences in all but 4. One infant and3 older children continued to experience briefepisodes ofparoxysmal tachycardia. Though three-quarters of the 42 babies were symptomatic, only 4 of the 46 followed as children and adolescents had tachyrhythmias. The prognosis into adult lifefor infants and children with WPW with or without episodes of tachycardia is good.