Description

Pediatric Cardiology

The heart development of babies is completed in the first
three months of the mother’s womb. Problems that may occur during this
time may prevent the normal development of the heart, causing holes between the
chambers, stenosis in the vessels or valves, and insufficiency. These
diseases caused by the development of the heart differently from the normal in
the mother’s womb and which are congenital are called congenital / congenital
heart disease. Many of these diseases show symptoms within the first year
after birth. Sometimes the disease is congenital, but its symptoms may
emerge in later years. Cardiac diseases that occur ACQUIRELY / AFTER can
also be seen in children.

Arrhythmia is encountered in both disease groups.

In congenital heart diseases, it can be seen with signs
such as bruising, frequent breathing, distressed breathing, increased heart
rate, frequent respiratory tract infection, inability to gain weight, growth
disturbance, inability to tolerate exercise, fatigue, fainting, and chest pain. In
the majority of congenital heart diseases, there is no obvious finding to
disturb the child and the family. During routine examination, the
pediatrician may suspect heart disease and refer the patient to a pediatric
cardiologist with some other findings (for example, suspicion of heart
enlargement on heart radiography).

Subsequent heart diseases also manifest themselves with
similar findings. The group of heart diseases that occur afterwards are
the common febrile joint rheumatism in our country, heart diseases accompanying
infectious, metabolic and systemic diseases and similar heart diseases.

Some congenital heart diseases can resolve
spontaneously. These are small holes between the auricles or
ventricles. However, these patients should be followed up regularly by a
pediatric cardiologist.

Approximately one out of every 100 babies born has a
congenital heart disease risk. This risk can vary according to various
genetic and environmental influences.

The correct diagnosis and timely treatment of heart
diseases in children is very important and life-saving. The most commonly
used method for diagnosis is echocardiography.