Indicators of Heart Disease in a Child

By Dr. Kulbhushan Singh Dagar in Cardiac Sciences , Paediatrics (Ped) , Paediatric (Ped) Cardiac Surgery

Nov 13 , 2020 | 1 min read

What is paediatric cardiology?

Paediatric cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the individual having heart disease since birth (irrespective of the present age of the individual).

When do you suspect that a child is having a heart disease?

A child may be having a heart disease when she/he suffers from any of the following symptoms:

Repeated chest infections
Unsatisfactory weight gain
Child who is unable to keep pace with his/her friends of the same age while playing
If s/he gets blue
If s/he complains of frequent palpitations

What do I do as a parent when I suspect a heart disease?

If you notice any of the above symptoms consult a doctor or a paediatrician. In case the doctor has any doubts s/he may take an expert opinion from a paediatric cardiologist.

Is the heart disease in children curable?

Heart diseases in children are treatable. If diagnosed at the right time, they can be completely cured.

Do all heart diseases in children require treatment and lifelong medication?

Heart diseases in children may be minor and might just require a regular follow up. Not all heart diseases require treatment. But it is important to diagnose them timely and appropriately by a paediatric cardiologist.

What tests will the doctor advice? Is it safe?

Doctor would commonly advice a echocardiography to diagnose the condition. Echocardiography does not have radiation and is absolutely a safe test.

Can echocardiography be repeated safely and how many times?

Echocardiography is an absolutely safe test and can be safely repeated without any side effects

Do all heart diseases in children require surgery?

Not all heart diseases in children require surgery. Most of them require just a regular follow up. They can be treated with interventions, without any surgery.

What is the outcome of surgery in heart defect?

Surgery as of today has got excellent outcome with very good long-term results and a normal lifespan, provided they are timely diagnosed.

My child is a grown-up and I did not consult anyone since birth. Can anything be done?

Whatever the age, ensure a proper evaluation by the paediatric cardiologist and most of the Congenital heart defects are curable nowadays.