How can it be fatal?

Sometimes the abnormal heart rhythm persists, leading to ventricular fibrillation, a rapid, uncoordinated series of heart contractions.

Most of the time, this doesn't revert to normal heart rhythm without being corrected electrically, and usually causes the heart to stop pumping.

Brugada syndrome is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young, otherwise healthy people and may not be diagnosed because there's no visible abnormality.

It may explain some cases of sudden infant death syndrome , which is a major cause of death in babies younger than one.

Sadly, most deaths from Brugada syndrome happen without any warning sign of the disorder.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dez 2018