Common Heart Diseases in Children

It is not uncommon for children to have heart diseases. While conditions like Kawasaki disease and viral infections of the heart are rare in children, some others are common. If your child is diagnosed with one, consider visiting a heart specialist at a hospital in Hyderabad soon for suitable treatment. Here are the heart diseases common in kids. 

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

It happens in children due to inborn heart defects like:

• Heart valve conditions like aortic valve stenosis which restricts blood flow
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (with the heart's left side as underdeveloped)
• Holes in the heart, usually in the walls between the main blood vessels leaving the organ and between its chambers, and due to:Patent ductus arteriosus
• Atrial septal defects
• Ventricular septal defects
• Tetralogy of Fallot, which includes the following defects in combination:A displaced aorta
• A thickened right side of the heart
• A narrowing of the passage between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery
• A hole in the ventricular septum

CHDs are generally treated with medications, catheter methods, surgery, and in extreme cases, heart transplantation. Sometimes, lifelong monitoring and treatment are needed. 

Atherosclerosis

It's caused by cholesterol-filled plaques and fat accumulation inside arteries, which become stiff and narrow, leading to blood clots and heart attacks.

Health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity may make kids prone to atherosclerosis. Such children must undergo screening for hypertension and high cholesterol. 

Treatment includes lifestyle changes like dietary modifications and more exercise. 

Arrhythmias

This abnormal heart rhythm may cause the organ to pump less efficiently. Types of arrhythmias in children may include:

• Bradycardia (a slow heart rate)
• Tachycardia (a fast heart rate) like supraventricular tachycardia (common)
• Long Q-T Syndrome
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty feeding
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Fainting

Treatment depends on the kind of arrhythmia and its impact on the child’s health. 

Heart Murmurs

These are whooshing sounds produced when blood circulates through the heart’s valves or chambers or valves, or the nearby blood vessels. Innocent murmurs usually go away by adulthood. But pathologic (abnormal) murmurs need diagnosis and treatment. They may be due to underlying heart problems like CHD, or other factors like anemia or fever. 

Pericarditis

It's caused by an infection or inflammation of the pericardium, the thin membrane, or sac surrounding the heart. This may increase the amount of fluid between the pericardial layers, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood normally. 

This condition may follow:

• Surgery for CHD
• Connective tissue conditions like lupus
• Chest traumas
• Bacterial infections

The child’s age, and overall health, and the severity of his/her condition determines treatment. 

Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)

Streptococcus bacteria, responsible for scarlet fever and strep throat may, if not treated, cause rheumatic heart disorder. 

It may permanently destroy the heart muscle (through inflammation, called myocarditis) and heart valves. Rheumatic fever generally affects 5-15 years old kids. However, signs of RHD may not reveal for 10-20 years after the condition sets in. 

RHD can be prevented by prompt antibiotic treatment of strep throat. 

When it's about a heart concern of your little one, consult the best child cardiologist in India right away.