La hipertension arterial infantil constituye un problema de salud con etiologia multifactorial. Se realizo estudio descriptivo y transversal, sobre la tension arterial de ninos adolescentes, en el Hospital Pediatrico Provincial Docente Pepe Portilla de Pinar del Rio, durante los anos 2008-2009, con el fin de realizar un pesquisaje de la hipertension arterial en los adolescentes, para determinar los posibles factores causales para su desarrollo. El universo lo conformaron 700 adolescentes que cursan estudios en la Escuela Secundaria Basica Combate de Bacunagua en Pinar del Rio. La muestra de 375 alumnos fue determinada mediante un muestreo aleatorio simple, quedando el total decantado como: tension arterial normal elevada o hipertension arterial, siguiendo los criterios diagnosticos. Fue empleado el metodo la encuesta, aplicado un cuestionario. Como metodos estadisticos se utilizaron el descriptivo y de contingencia. El sexo mas afectado fue el masculino, en ambos grupos. Los factores de riesgo de mayor incidencia fueron la obesidad, el exceso en el consumo de sal, indicando que el estilo de vida inadecuado influyo negativamente en la tension arterial. Los antecedentes de HTA influyeron en cifras elevadas de tension arterial. La valoracion nutricional estuvo determinada predominantemente por los adolescentes obesos, sobrepesos y enfermedades asociadas. Predominaron alterados los complementarios que investigan el funcionamiento cardiovascular. La mayoria de los adolescentes respondieron no haberse medido la tension arterial en estudios previos. Palabras clave: HIPERTENSION /prevencion & control. ABSTRACT Hypertension in childhood constitutes a health problem with multi-factorial etiology. A descriptive and cross-sectional study about hypertension in children and adolescents was conducted at Pepe Portilla Children Teaching Hospital during 2008-2009. The study was aimed at screening hypertension in adolescents to determine possible causal factors in its development. The target group was comprised of 700 adolescents enrolled at Combate de Bacunagua Secondary School in Pinar del Rio. The sample (375 students) was determined by means of a simple randomized sampling, the total chosen as: normal increased or hypertension following the criteria of diagnosis. Surveys by means of a questionnaire, descriptive and contingency statistical methods were as well used. Male sex was the most affected in both groups. Obesity and salt consumption were among the risk factors of greater incidence; which indicated an inadequate lifestyle having a negative influence in blood pressure. History of hypertension influenced on higher figures of blood pressure. Nutritional assessment was mainly determined by obese, over-weighted adolescents and associated diseases. Complementary tests showed alterations regarding cardiovascular functions. The majority of the adolescents had not taken their blood pressure in previous studies. Key words: HYPERTENSION/prevention & control.