An electrocardiogram, commonly known as an ECG, is a quick and straightforward test that records the electrical activity of your child's heart. Every heartbeat is triggered by a tiny electrical signal that travels through the heart muscle, and the ECG captures these signals to produce a detailed tracing on paper. This tracing gives Dr Giardini valuable information about the speed and rhythm of your child's heartbeat, the size and thickness of the heart chambers, and the overall electrical health of the heart.

The test is performed by placing ten small adhesive stickers (called electrodes) on your child's skin: six across the chest and one on each arm and leg. These stickers are connected by thin wires to the ECG machine, which picks up the heart's electrical signals and prints them as a continuous trace. Your child will need to lie still for just a couple of minutes while the recording is taken. The entire process typically takes less than five minutes from start to finish.

An ECG is completely painless. Children sometimes find the sensation of the stickers being applied a little unusual, but there is no discomfort during the recording itself. When the test is complete, the stickers are gently peeled away. Dr Giardini's team will always take care to make the experience as gentle as possible.

The ECG is an important tool for identifying a range of heart conditions in children. It can detect abnormalities in heart rhythm (arrhythmias), highlight signs that a chamber of the heart may be enlarged or thickened, and help diagnose specific electrical conditions such as Long QT syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. It is also routinely used alongside other investigations, such as the echocardiogram, to build a complete picture of your child's cardiac health.

Results are available immediately. Dr Giardini personally interprets every ECG tracing, so findings can be discussed with you during the same appointment. No special preparation is required before the test, and your child can eat, drink and take any regular medications as normal.