Fri, 12 Feb 2016
Contents
What is heart disease
Under congenital heart disease is commonly understood as a defect in
the structure of the heart or large vessels that is present with
of birth. Most of these conditions result in disturbance.
blood flow inside the heart or in circles of blood circulation, large and
small.
The proportion of children suffering from this disease among newborns
is about 1%. Among the congenital defects of heart disease
are the most common, they are the main
the cause of infant mortality that is associated with vices
development.
The modern level of development of medicine allows you to diagnose
them in newborns still in the hospital, and some pathologies
detected at the perinatal stage (before birth).
Causes of heart disease in children
To date, the cause of most of these diseases
can not be determined. If the family has one sick child, then
the risk of having other babies with heart disease is higher, but not
much, and does not exceed 5%. It is believed that the cause of congenital
disorders of the cardiovascular system is
genetic or environmental factors, as well as their combination.
Symptoms of heart defects in children
Clinical manifestations are determined by type and severity.
diseases. Symptoms can occur early in life, and
may be invisible for life. Some children do not feel
symptoms, while others suffer from shortness of breath, cyanosis, fainting,
heart murmurs, underdevelopment of limbs and muscles, poor
appetite, frequent respiratory infections. Wrong structure
heart in such conditions can cause heart
noises.
Parents should contact the pediatrician in the event of: – color changes
the skin of the baby in the face, nasolabial triangle,
fingers, feet to blue or his unusual pallor; – swelling
child’s limbs; – his frequent gratuitous cry, which
accompanied by blue (cyanosis) or pale skin,
the appearance of cold sweat (especially on the forehead); – reluctant sucking
or great anxiety when applying breast, frequent
regurgitation, slow weight gain; – constant shortness of breath or
attacks of rapid breathing that may be accompanied
blue skin – unreasonable increase or decrease
heartbeat.
Older children who can already explain that with them
occurs, as a rule, complain of pain in the area
chest (heart), increased respiration in any physical
loads or even at rest. In any case, parents should
remember that the faster they turn to a specialist, the faster
the doctor will be diagnosed and given the necessary recommendations.
Ways to treat heart defects in children
Treatments can be surgical (radical) and
therapeutic (most often they are auxiliary).
Surgical treatment depends on the phase of the defect and may
be carried out on an emergency or in a planned manner.
Therapeutic treatment is applied as a radical measure.
rarely, more often it acts as a symptomatic measure when
cardiac asthma, dyspnea attacks, chronic heart
failure, arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia.
It must be said that today the majority of congenital heart defects
subject to treatment, and timely access to a cardiologist allows
provide the child with the opportunity to live a full life.
