WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEART DISEASES IN CHILDREN

Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting millions of children across the world. During past couple of decades, there is a steep rise in number of children being diagnosed with heart diseases. If you are planning for pregnancy, it is important to know what are the risk factors and probable ways to  prevent heart diseases. Here are the excerpts from the insightful interview with  Dr. Suman Vyas MBBS, MD, DNB Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, STAR Hospitals

Q. Doctor, do children also have heart diseases?

Ans: Yes. Children do have heart diseases. They are born with heart disease and are called congenital heart disease or acquire them as they age.

Q. How common are Congenital Heart Diseases?

Ans: Out of 1000 babies born there can be 7-9 babies with Congenital Heart Diseases. About 200,000 babies are born with heart disease in India every year.

Q. How can a parent recognize heart disease in a child?

Ans: If a child develops a) Hurried breathing b) Does not feed adequately and takes very small quantity of feed c) Sweats excessively during breast feeding d) Becomes irritable and cries inconsolably e) Gets tired easily compared with pear group f) Becomes blue while crying g) Fails to gain weight, we can suspect heart disease in a child

Q. Can we diagnose heart disease during pregnancy?

Ans: Yes, congenital heart diseases can be diagnosed by Fetal heart scan.

Q. Should all pregnant mothers undergo fetal heart scan?

Ans: Fetal heart scans should be conducted in a) if previous child or either parent had heart disease b) If mother has diabetes, thyroid, fits or on any medications c) age of mother being older than 35 years d) if mother is habituated to smoking or alcohol.e) if there is any history of recurrent pregnancy loss.

Q. What should parents do when they find out that baby has heart disease on fetal scan?

Ans: They should immediately consult a PaediatricCardiologist to know about the severity of heart disease and to have a treatment plan.

Q. Are all Congenial Heart Diseases serious?

Ans: Only 1/5th of congenital heart disease are serious and require immediate attention.

Q. Does all heart diseases need surgery? Are there any drugs available?

Ans: Drugs are available to control the symptoms of the heart diseases. Severe heart diseases most often require immediate treatment either as surgery or catheter-based intervention. Mild to moderate heartdiseases are treated as per the symptoms and as the diseases or its consequences on other organs progresses.

Q. Once operated either by surgery or intervention do children lead a normal life?

Ans. Most of the children lead a normal life. It depends on the type of the disease.

Q. Can congenital heart diseases be prevented by any means?

Ans. Chances can be reduced by taking folic acid tablets three months before planned pregnancy underphysician supervision.

Book Appointment: Dr. Suman Vyas MBBS, MD, DNB Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, STAR Hospitals