Pediatric Coronary Artery Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment

Coronary artery disease — the most prevalent kind of heart disease around — strikes when the coronary arteries harden and become narrowed by the build-up of cholesterol-ridden plaques. Many factors can lead to the circulation of too many fats in the blood, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately results in heart disease. A lot of people wrongfully assume that hypertension and high cholesterol levels are adult health problems, but about one in 250 children have high cholesterol.

Symptoms of pediatric coronary artery disease

Of course, this is not the only cause. Pediatric coronary artery disease may appear in children who have been exposed to toxins for a very long time, those who have a family history of heart disease, and in children living with other medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or Kawasaki disease.

As with coronary artery disease in adults, children who have this condition may or may not show any signs of it. However, the most common symptoms include chest pain (also known as “angina”), dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and headaches.

Even if children don’t show any signs of this condition, but they do have it, they are at risk of developing all the potential complications that adults with coronary artery disease experience as well, from heart failure to heart attacks.

Diagnosis of pediatric coronary artery disease

Taking your child to see a specialist in pediatric cardiology is very important if you have any suspicions that they have a heart condition such as coronary artery disease. You should be prepared to answer a series of questions about your child.

It would be very helpful if you made note of all the symptoms, when they occur, their intensity, and what your child was doing at that particular moment. You will also be asked to provide your doctor with information on family history of heart disease, if they’ve had any recent illnesses, talk about their growth, their diet, and so on.

The doctors will most likely listen to their heart and lungs, but can also choose to perform a series of tests in order to determine if there is indeed a coronary artery problem. Aside from urine and blood tests, you can expect pretty much the same standard diagnostic methods that you hear about in adults: electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and chest X-rays.

It may sometimes be required for the doctor to perform more than one of these tests. For instance, while the electrocardiogram is the standard go-to test for establishing potential heart disease, if the child’s heart is beating normally during the test, they might still be at risk, so a more in-depth screening might be required.

If your child has pediatric coronary artery disease and the doctor suspects it may be inherited, you and some members of your family may require screening as well. This can be very important in determining the best treatment path for the child.

Treatment of pediatric coronary artery disease

As a parent, you are responsible for getting involved in your child’s diet and play routine, by making sure that they don’t eat foods high in cholesterol or fat, preventing them from having a weight problem.

As far as exercising is concerned, if your child refuses to actively play with other children or isn’t getting enough exercise by playing on their own, you will have to come up with exciting activities for you to do together (like a scavenger hunt).

Other potential heart problems in children

Sadly, coronary artery disease isn’t the only heart-related condition that can strike a child. Others include:

• Atherosclerosis can also affect children, although this rarely happens because it takes years for cholesterol deposits to form plaques that rupture and create blood clots.
• Arrhythmias mean that the heart is beating at an abnormal rhythm. Some children can have their heart beat either very fast or very slow.
• Rheumatic heart disease is caused by the same bacteria that are notorious for causing scarlet fever and strep throat. While it’s not a very common condition, it’s important to know that it can cause permanent damage to the heart, and may appear in children between the ages of five and 15.
• Heart murmurs are generally harmless, but can also be a sign on another cardiovascular problem. They are characterized by a whoosh sound that the blood makes while finding its way through the heart’s chambers.
• Congenital heart disease is something that a few children are born with. It can include many different heart problems, from undeveloped parts of the heart to displaced aortas. It’s not uncommon for congenital heart disease to require surgical interventions, but some of the conditions can be treated with medication alone.

Conclusion