Heart defects in babies and children
About one baby in a hundred is born with a heart defect. Most can be treated, and many children go on to live full lives.
A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart that is present at birth. Some are small holes that close on their own. Others need medicine, a procedure through a blood vessel, or surgery.
Signs in a baby
- Fast or laboured breathing, especially during feeds
- Tiring quickly or sweating while feeding
- Poor weight gain
- A blue or grey tinge to the lips, tongue or skin
Signs in an older child
- Getting out of breath or tired much sooner than other children
- Fainting during exercise
- Chest pain with activity
- Swelling of the feet, ankles or around the eyes
How it’s diagnosed
Many defects are picked up when a doctor hears a murmur during a routine check, and most murmurs in children turn out to be harmless. If there is any doubt, a paediatric cardiologist will arrange an echocardiogram, an ultrasound scan of the heart that is painless and uses no radiation.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the defect. Some children only need regular check-ups. Others take medicine, and some need a repair, which may be done through a thin tube passed along a blood vessel or by open-heart surgery. Your child’s cardiologist will explain the options and where each is done.