FAQ Questions

The signs of heart problems in children can vary depending on the type of heart disease. Some common symptoms include not gaining weight, sweating during feeding, bluish discoloration of palm and soles, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, and swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet .

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type of heart disease that a child is born with. It occurs due to heart defects that are present at birth. An estimated 1% of babies born each year have CHD .

An arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. It can cause the heart to pump less efficiently. Many different types of arrhythmias may occur in children, including an abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia) or abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia).

The treatment for heart diseases in children depends on the type and severity of the condition. Some heart diseases may require surgery, catheter procedures, medications, and in severe cases, heart transplants. Others may be managed with lifestyle changes like increased exercise and dietary modifications .

Need for surgery depends on type and severity of congenital heart disease. Small holes in heart can close spontaneously after birth in few years. As the baby gain weight, the muscle mass in heart increases which gradually closes small defects. But if your baby has a large defect, such babies require surgery. Some holes which are very small and some milder forms of valve defects which are not causing any problem can be left untreated under regular follow up. For detailed opinion consult your pediatric cardiologist.

Not all the hole in heart are same. Small holes can close spontaneously but large holes cause symptoms and cause babies to not gain weight. Moreover, he may also contact life threatening pneumonia and may land into heart failure. If your baby is not gaining weight and having feeding difficulties, this might be a sign of a large hole in heart and will require surgery to correct heart defect and have a normal life.

If your baby is turning blue, he may be suffering from cyanotic congenital heart disease. Babies with cyanotic heart disease require surgery for complete cure. Some medications are prescribed to reduce symptoms and bluish discoloration and it may seem that the child is improving but it is only delaying the inevitable. It is always better to consult pediatric cardiologist at the earliest and plan for surgical correction.

Not all holes need to be closed and there are very clear guidelines about which holes need to be closed and when. The hole in your babies heart probably is satisfying these recommendations. Sometimes patients are clinically asymptomatic however we find some problems in echocardiography that indicate that the hole needs to be closed. Every procedure small or big carries risks, but the decision to operate is dependent on risk benefit ratio. Closure Is advised only when the benefits of closure outweighs the risks associated with it. Moreover, now the procedures are relatively very safe and carry very small risk when compared to few years back.

If the hole is not closed at proper time it may lead to increase in lung pressure that make it not suitable for closure. Even if it is closed later in life the life expectancy of this child will not be as normal as other children due to long standing cardiac remodelling. Not all the hole in heart are same. Small holes can close spontaneously but large holes cause symptoms and cause babies to not gain weight. Moreover, he may also