Heart Diseases Of Children
Heart diseases of children are present since birth normally and they are also called congenital heart diseases. They are the result of abnormal embryogenesis when the baby is in the uterus. The incidence of such diseases is approximately 1% of live birth. The most common and well known disease we normally heard about is hole in child’s heart.
Congenital heart defects are actually developmental abnormalities. Environmental factors such as rubella virus or teratogens, multifactorial genetics and maternal factors are also responsible for these diseases in babies.
In this context, some major heart disease since birth are discussed.
1. Tetralogy of Fallot: The four major features of this disease are ventricular septal defects(VSD), obstruction to right ventricular system, an aorta over-riding the VSD and increase size of right ventricle.
The major sign and symptoms are blue color of skin (cyanosis) especially around the mouth and nose, rapid heart beating and heart murmur. Complete surgical repair is possible.
2. Tricuspid Atresia: Complete occlusion of tricuspid valves orifices is known as tricuspid atresia. The right ventricle does not develop. Cyanosis and mortality is high in the first few weeks or months of life
3. Atrioventricular Septal Defects: Here all four chambers of heart communicate either partially or totally. Baby presented is reluctant to feed, sweaty and breathing fastly. Surgical repair is possible.
4. Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA): The ductus arteriosus remains open here after birth which normally gets obliterated after birth. Baby shows the signs of weight lost, fatigue, respiratory infections and fast breathing. It can be corrected by administration of prostaglandin in baby.
5. Atrial Septal Defect: It is the hole in the atrial septum. Blood flows through the hole from left atrium to right. These defects are the most common heart defects seen in children.
If left untreated, it may cause problem in adulthood as well. In babies symptoms are not present mostly and is diagnosed on physical examination and heart murmur.
Treatment of choice is either open heart surgery or placement of amplatzer septal occluder.
6. Coarctation of Aorta: This is the narrowing of aorta which is the major blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood from heart to the whole part of the body. It occurs when segment of the aorta is short. Newborns are often well until the ductus arteriosus closes and after it the symptoms appear abruptly and are usually severe.
It is diagnosed when the doctor fails to feel the pulse in the groin or legs of the baby. It can be corrected by continuous infusion of prostaglandin in infants. Surgical resection is also possible in case of older children.
7. Truncus Arteriosus: A baby with this defect has just one great vessel leaving the heart, instead of separate pulmonary artery and aorta. Baby is cyanotic and may acquire congested heart failure. Surgical repair is done to save the infant’s life.