The heart pushes out oxygen rich blood. The blood travels through the body
then comes back to the heart for more oxygen.
The process starts all over again.
What is congenital heart disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is when a baby is born with a birth defect
in his heart. Part of his heart does not work right.
It has difficulty pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body.
What causes it?
CHD is caused by a heart defect. There are many different kinds of defects.
Doctors do not always know what caused the defect.
Certain conditions during pregnancy place the baby at higher risk for CHD:
If a mother has a viral infection during pregnancy, such as rubella (German
Measles).
If a mother uses certain medications during pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol, smoking, and using cocaine during pregnancy places the
baby at higher risk.
Pregnant mothers with certain illnesses (such as diabetes) are more likely
to have babies with CHD. The doctor can help these mothers reduce the risk.
Who can get it?
CHD may run in families. If a parent has CHD, the children are more likely
to have it. If a child has CHD, his brother or sister is more likely to have
it.
Children with Down's syndrome often have CHD.
Certain conditions during pregnancy place babies at high risk for CHD. See
"Causes" above.
What are the signs and symptoms?
In some cases, the doctor can use an ultrasound (looking at the unborn baby
using a computer screen) to see if the baby has a heart defect.
Some babies don't have symptoms because their defect is so small. These
children may be diagnosed later in life.
Some babies are diagnosed when the doctor hears that the child's heart is
not pumping right. The sound is called a murmur.
Murmurs are not always a sign that there is a heart defect.
A child with CHD may have trouble breathing, especially during exercise.
The child may tire easily and may even faint from physical activity.
The child may often squat to breathe easier.
They may have trouble sucking and not be able to gain weight.
The child's legs, stomach, and eyes may swell.
The skin, fingernails, and lips may be a bluish color because the child
is not getting enough oxygen. This is called "cyanosis."
Children with CHD are at high risk for a heart infection.
How is it treated?
Most heart defects can be fixed, or at least helped.
Treatment choices include surgery, medicine, or different electrical devices.
Different defects need different treatments.
Can it be prevented?
Most defects cannot be prevented.
A woman can take steps to improve her baby's chances of being born without
a defect.
Before pregnancy, a woman should be tested for rubella and vaccinated if
needed.
Pregnant women should avoid drugs and alcohol.
Women with chronic health conditions should talk to their doctors before
getting pregnant. Medication and diet may need to be changed.
Genetic counselors can sometimes tell parents what their chances are of
having a baby with a heart defect.
When should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if your child with a heart defect needs dental surgery or
other surgery. He may need to take antibiotics before the surgery to help
prevent infection.
Call the doctor if your child shows symptoms of a heart defect.
Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's condition
or treatment.
Quick Answers
The heart is a muscle that pumps oxygen rich blood to the rest of the body.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is when a baby is born with a birth defect
in his heart.
Doctors do not always know what caused the defect.
CHD may run in families. Children with Down's syndrome often have it. Certain
conditions during pregnancy place babies at higher risk.
CHD can be diagnosed before birth, at birth, or early in life. Babies with
very small defects may not have symptoms. These children may be diagnosed
later in life.
Treatment choices include surgery, medicine, or different electrical devices.
Most defects cannot be prevented, but a woman can take steps to improve
her baby's chances of being born without a defect.
Call the doctor if your child shows symptoms of a heart defect.
References
HeartCenterOnline. Congenital Heart Disease. (cited 2002 January 22). Available
from: URL: http://www.heartcenteronline.com/myheartdr/common/artprn_rev.cfm?filename=&ARTID=289
March of Dimes. Congenital Heart Defects. 1999 (cited 2002 January 18).
Available from: URL: http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary2/FactSheets/Congenital_heart_defects.htm
MEDLINEplus. Internal View of the Heart. 2000 January 2 (cited 2002 January
18).
TexasHeart Institute. Congenital Heart Disease. 1998 June (cited
2002 January 18). Available from: URL: http://www.tmc.edu/thi/congenit.html
"Virtual Pediatric Hospital", the Virtual Pediatric Hospital logo, and "A digital library of pediatric information" are all Trademarks of Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.
Virtual Pediatric Hospital is funded in whole by Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D. Advertising is not accepted.
Your personal information remains confidential and is not sold, leased, or given to any third party be they reliable or not.
The information contained in Virtual Pediatric Hospital is not a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.