Consult Super-Specialist Doctors at CARE Hospitals
Updated on 23 February 2022
Congenital heart disease affects the normal functioning of the heart, and it is present since birth. This is the most common among all birth defects. Out of 1000 liveborn babies, 8-10 babies can have congenital heart disease. Almost 20-25 % of them may need cardiac surgery/intervention in the first year of life. Commonly, congenital heart diseases can be divided into two major types.
Symptoms of congenital heart disease depend upon the type of lesion, size or severity of the problem. Many babies with acynotic heart disease do not exhibit any symptoms, or they are referred by children specialists due to the presence of extra sounds from the heart (murmur). Moderate defects, even if they do not cause problems right away, can become troublesome over time. At the same time, a large defect may present with symptoms early in life or during infancy. If untreated, the larger defect may cause high lung pressure (pulmonary hypertension), which may hamper the complete cure of the disease or lead to heart failure due to increased load on the heart. Common symptoms seen in acyanotic heart disease patients are,
In infants, feeding difficulties and sweating over the forehead are the most common symptoms. In the case of cyanotic heart disease, your child may experience symptoms such as;
The causes of Congenital heart defects are not fully understood by scientists. It is a multifactorial disease, which may have an association with maternal, fetal, or genetic factors. If one sibling/immediate relative is affected with congenital heart disease, the chances of another baby getting heart disease is 3-5%. Also, recent studies have suggested that they are associated to;
Congenital heart disease can be diagnosed in several ways. Once the baby is referred to a pediatric cardiologist for evaluation, the following test may be advised for diagnosis;
Cyanotic heart diseases need surgery or the intervention of a heart specialist in Hyderabad early in life. Children with mild acyanotic heart disease may not require any treatment of congenital heart disease or can be managed with medicines. A child with medium or large defects may need either surgical/interventional procedures. Nowadays, a hole in the heart can be closed using an umbrella-like plug or closed valves can be opened with a balloon. Many unoperated kids may need long-term medicines or they can be registered for heart/ heart-lung transplantation.
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