Pediatric High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia)

HDL is the “good cholesterol” as it carries the LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver for elimination from the body. A healthy HDL level protects against heart attacks and strokes.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are fat-like substances in the body that store excess energy from the diet. They are often measured with other cholesterol levels. 

High cholesterol typically doesn’t cause any symptoms until your child has a serious event, such as a stroke or heart disease. If you or other family members have high cholesterol, you should have your child's cholesterol levels checked too. High cholesterol that is passed on in families (called familial hypercholesterolemia) often results in extremely high levels of LDL due to a gene mutation that clears cholesterol from the blood. There is a 50% chance for a child to inherit the disorder from an affected parent.

Lipid screening in children ages 9-11 and 17-21 years helps diagnose high cholesterol. In some cases, two additional fasting lipid tests will be taken two weeks to three months apart.

Your child’s doctor will ask about family history and dietary habits. The doctor may order blood tests to rule out various conditions that can cause high cholesterol. If there is a family history of high cholesterol, genetic testing can determine if your child has inherited familial hypercholesterolemia.