preschool questions

Posted By cheryl on March 25, 1999 at 17:52:29:







I coordinate preschool programs for a cooperative school district.  We have had four children within the last few years with either WPW, Ebsteins, or both.  These children had differences in the severity of symptoms.  One child who had both WPW and Ebsteins had more severe syptoms (symptoms), some restrictions, and took medication at school.  He looked like a child with health problems with pale skin and puffy eyes.  Another child with WPW took meds at home only.  He was very healthy looking and had no restrictions.  With the other two children, neither who took meds, one had WPW and the other Ebsteins with no restrictions.  Both looked and seemed healthy.  The child with WPW who took no meds, died at home due to a fatal arrythmia.  He was five years old.  This of course has been devastating to everyone.  It has also raised much fear about our other children with heart problems.  This child seemed fine.  Is this just a terrible but unordinary tragedy?  Are there signs or symptoms we should be looking for with the other children? Also, these children are all close to the same age and from the same general area.  Do you find that abnormal to have that many children in one small, rural area to have the same or similar heart problems?  None of the children are related so it can't be familial.  Thanks for your help.