Poll: Can you diagnose this 7-year-old with anxious episodes? | Image credit: Contemporary Pediatrics

Welcome to this Contemporary Pediatrics poll. Take a look at the following case below. After reading through the description, choose a multiple-choice answer and try to guess the correct patient diagnosis.

Then visit our website on September 24, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST or later for the full case presentation, differential diagnosis, and correct patient diagnosis.

This case was presented by Tyler Hanna, MD; Joshua Khuvis, MD; Sara Sanders, MD; Jennifer Haile, MD.

The Case:

A 7-year-old female with a history of receptive-expressive speech disorder presents with her father to establish care. She complains of dull headaches that occur 3 to 4 times per month to her central forehead over the past few months that improve with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and closing her eyes. They occur in any setting and do not have any clear trigger.

The father also described an episode of chest pain 2 days prior to presentation. She was getting ready to leave for school when she felt her heart racing and father witnessed her fall to the floor. This episode lasted 2 minutes before self-resolving. Father denied dyspnea, loss-of-consciousness, or cyanosis with this event. No previous episodes like this were reported, though father reports that she has had more anxious episodes recently that could be panic attacks. Family history was notable for hypertension in father, neuroendocrine tumor in paternal grandmother, as well as hyperlipidemia and heart disease in paternal grandfather. The initial exam was notable for an elevated automatic blood pressure of 125/88 mmHg, heart rate of 113 beats per minute (BPM), height of 125.6cm (64th percentile), and weight of 26.7kg (75th percentile).

Below, take your best guess at diagnosing this patient.

Visit the Contemporary Pediatrics website again on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST or later for the full case presentation, differential diagnosis, and correct patient diagnosis.

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