A pet Doberman's unusual behaviour around a six-month-old baby in England led his mother to seek medical help, after which doctors discovered that the child had a dangerously fast heartbeat of 280 beats per minute.
asserted
child → lead → minute
The incident happened in September when Kim Reynolds, 41, from Shepton Mallet in Somerset, noticed that her dog, Saraya, was repeatedly crying and refusing to leave her son Alexander alone, SWNS reported.
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SWNS → happen → Alexander
Doctors later diagnosed the baby with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that affects the electrical signals controlling the heartbeat.
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that → diagnose → heartbeat
Kim, a first-time mother and former canine hydrotherapist, was familiar with dogs but had never seen Saraya behave this way around Alexander.
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Saraya → see → Alexander
The Doberman appeared unusually concerned about the baby and became upset whenever he was moved away from her.
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he → appear → her
At first, Kim could not understand what was troubling the animal.
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what → understand → animal
Later that day, Alexander began showing signs of illness, so she took him to the emergency department at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
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she → begin → Hospital
By the time they reached the hospital, Alexander had stopped crying.
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Alexander → reach → hospital
Kim wondered whether the visit had been necessary.
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visit → wonder → ?
However, when doctors examined him, they found that his heart was beating at 280 beats per minute and the baby needed immediate treatment to bring his heart rhythm under control.
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baby → examine → control
Baby's heartbeat remains high
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heartbeat → remain → ?
Doctors first attempted to slow Alexander's heartbeat using cold water and ice.
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Doctors → attempt → water
Kim recalled that medical staff placed her son in a container of icy water as part of the procedure.
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staff → recall → procedure
She found the experience distressing, particularly when she heard him scream.
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him → find → ?
The treatment was attempted twice, but Alexander's heartbeat remained unusually fast.
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heartbeat → attempt → ?
According to Kim's account, his head was submerged for around 10 seconds during the procedure.
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head → accord → procedure
When the attempts failed, he was returned to her lap.
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he → fail → lap
Kim then asked whether doctors could use medication instead.
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doctors → ask → medication
Alexander was given medicine intravenously, and his heart rate eventually came down after three doses.
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rate → give → doses
Once his condition had been stabilised, he was taken by ambulance to Poole Hospital for further care.
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he → stabilise → care
Kim remained in hospital with her son for two nights while doctors investigated what had caused his heartbeat to become so fast.
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heartbeat → remain → nights
Two days after the first emergency visit, Alexander was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
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Alexander → diagnose → syndrome
What causes Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?
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What → cause → syndrome
According to MedBound Times, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, also called WPW syndrome, is a congenital heart condition that involves an extra electrical connection between the heart's upper and lower chambers.
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that → accord → chambers
Normally, electrical signals travel through the heart along a controlled pathway, helping maintain a regular heartbeat.
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signals → travel → heartbeat
In people with WPW syndrome, the additional connection can allow signals to travel differently, sometimes triggering episodes in which the heart beats much faster than normal.
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heart → allow → which
These episodes can involve supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition in which the heartbeat becomes abnormally fast.
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heartbeat → involve → which
In young children, warning signs can include breathing difficulties, pale skin, irritability and restlessness.
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signs → include → difficulties
Doctors commonly use an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to identify WPW syndrome.
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Doctors → use → syndrome
The test records the heart's electrical activity.
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test → record → activity
Other investigations, including heart monitoring and an echocardiogram, may also be recommended depending on the patient's symptoms.
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investigations → include → symptoms
Alexander now receives propranolol, a beta-blocker used to help control his heart rate.
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Alexander → receive → rate
Kim gives him the medicine three times daily through a syringe.
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Kim → give → syringe
She says he has become comfortable taking it and does not resist the treatment.
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he → say → treatment
Dog's behaviour raises concern again
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behaviour → raise → concern
The September hospital visit was not the only occasion when Saraya's actions made Kim worry about Alexander's health.
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Kim → make → health
Later that month, the baby was sitting in his bouncer when the Doberman began behaving unusually again.
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Doberman → sit → bouncer
Saraya stayed close to him, licked his hands and repeatedly looked towards Kim.
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Saraya → stay → Kim
Remembering what had happened earlier, Kim immediately wondered whether Alexander was experiencing another episode of SVT.
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Alexander → remember → SVT
She checked his pulse but also noticed that his throat looked red.
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throat → check → pulse
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
