Cardiac Conditions In Childhood

While cardiac problems tend to be more common in adults, children can also suffer from heart problems. In adults, many heart conditions are due to coronary artery disease, which develops slowly over time. In children, the cause of heart problems is usually genetic or acquired as a result of another condition, such as an infection. 

Heart Murmurs In Children

A heart murmur in itself is not a heart condition. But since murmurs are very common in children, it is important to understand what a murmur is and what it can indicate. 

A heart murmur can be a sign of an underlying problem with the heart. But in many instances, a heart murmur is not caused by any heart problem and is harmless.

Murmurs can occur due to structural abnormalities of the heart, such as a problem with a heart value. The condition is often present from birth, although some structural abnormalities can be acquired later in life. A murmur can also be caused by a disorder of the heart muscle itself or can occur from damage due to an infection in the lining of the heart. 

Many heart murmurs are referred to as functional murmurs because they do not cause additional symptoms. Functional murmurs may come and go and do not require any treatment. 

Acquired Heart Conditions In Children

Acquired heart conditions are a condition a child was not born with but develops at some point in their life. For instance, a child may have an infection or similar condition, which results in damage to the heart. The most common diseases or infections, which can lead to heart damage in childhood include Kawasaki disease and rheumatic fever.

Kawasaki disease is a medical condition, which causes inflammation in the arteries throughout the body including the coronary arteries. The reasons why the condition develops is not known. Some theories suggest there is an environmental cause.

Symptoms often develop in phases. In the first phase, symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash, usually on the trunk.  Symptoms of the second phase may include diarrhea, stomach pain, joint pain and peeling of the skin on the hands and feet. Although not all children will develop cardiac complications, they can occur. According to the Mayo Clinic, Kawasaki disease is the main cause of acquired heart conditions in children.  Inflammation of the coronary arteries, heart value problems and myocarditis, are possible. The good news is the condition usually resolves, and permanent heart damage is uncommon.   

See Also: Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Primary First Aid Treatment

Rheumatic fever is another cause of acquired cardiac conditions in children. It is considered a complication of strep throat. If not treated properly, the bacteria, which causes strep throat, can travel to the heart and lead to inflammation, which can result in damage to the heart and heart valves.

Symptoms can include fever, chest and joint pain, and fatigue. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat the condition. In many instances, the condition resolves after treatment, but permanent heart damage is possible.    

Most Cardiac Conditions In Children Are Congenital 

Although acquired heart conditions do develop in children, congenital cardiac conditions are more common. There are many different types of congenital heart conditions, which vary in severity from life-threatening to minor. 

Cardiac Conditions From Birth

Below are a few of the more common congenital heart defects seen in children.

Aortic valve stenosis: This congenital cardiac condition is caused by abnormal development of the aortic valve and the heart. Because the valve is deformed and too narrow, blood is not able to flow through it adequately. Symptoms may include, dizziness, chest pain, fever and shortness of breath.

Atrial septic defect: An atrial septic defect is a congenital heart condition caused by an opening in the wall between the right and left atria. It causes a disruption in cardiac blood flow, which leads to extra blood flowing to the heart. As a result, there is an increased demand placed on the heart. Over time the extra work placed on the heart can lead to heart failure. Symptoms may be mild and may not appear until a child has reached adulthood. When symptoms appear in children, they often include difficulty feeding, poor weight gain and rapid breathing.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: This congenital condition occurs when the left side of the heart is not developed properly. The left side of the heart carries oxygenated blood to the tissues in the body. In children who have hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side is underdeveloped. If the arteries are too small, it affects the amount of oxygenated blood which can be carried to the lungs. Symptoms may include rapid breathing, shortness of breath, grayish skin color.  

Treating Cardiac Conditions In Childhood

In some cases, cardiac conditions in childhood may not produce any symptoms or may be minor. If that is the case, treatment may involve routine monitoring of the condition. In other instances, treatment may be required.

In some instances, medication will be needed to regulate blood pressure and increase or decrease the contraction of the heart.

In some types of congenital heart conditions, surgery is needed to repair the condition. For example, in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, surgery is needed in order to restore proper blood flow. In other instances, procedures, such as a balloon valvoplasty are performed to widen the arteries and improve blood flow.

Some types of heart conditions are so severe that the only treatment is a heart transplant. Heart transplants are complex procedure, but are often successful in treating life-threatening cardiac conditions, which cannot be treated otherwise.

See Also: First Organ Donation From An Infant Done In The UK

In many cases, prognosis is good for children with heart problems. Many children are able to be active and go on to have a normal life expectancy. The key is to have the condition accurately diagnosed as early as possible and receive appropriate treatment before additional complications develop.