2. OVERVIWE.........
• Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults, but it can be especially
tragic in children.
• Many different types of heart problems can affect children. They include
congenital heart defects, viral infections that affect the heart, and even heart
disease acquired later in childhood due to illnesses or genetic syndromes.
• The good news is that with advances in medicine and technology, many children
with heart disease go on to live active, full lives.
3. CONTI.....
• According to the American Heart
Association, congenital heart
defects (present at birth) are the
most common type of birth defect.
• They affect 8 out of every 1,000
newborns. Each year, more than
35,000 babies in the United States
are born with congenital heart
defects
4. Congenital Heart Disease
• Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type
of heart disease that children are born
with, usually caused by heart defects that
are present at birth. In the U.S., an
estimated 1 percent of babies born each
year have CHD.
5. CONTI.......• CHDs that affect children include:
I. heart valve disorders like a narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts blood flow
II. hypoplastic left heart syndrome, where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped
III. disorders involving holes in the heart, typically in the walls between the chambers and between major blood vessels
leaving the heart, including:
IV. ventricular septal defects
V. atrial septal defects
VI. patent ductus arteriosus
VII. tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four defects, including:
VIII. a hole in the ventricular septum
IX. a narrowed passage between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery
X. a thickened right side of the heart
XI. a displaced aorta
6. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the term used to describe the buildup of fat and cholesterol-filled plaques
inside arteries. As the buildup increases, arteries become stiffened and narrowed, which
increases the risk of blood clots and heart attacks. It typically takes many years for
atherosclerosis to develop. It’s unusual for children or teenagers to suffer from it.
However, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other health issues put children at higher risk.
Doctors recommend screening for high cholesterol and high blood pressure in children who
have risk factors like family history of heart disease or diabetes and are overweight or obese.
Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes like increased exercise and dietary
modifications.
7. Arrhythmias
An arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. This can cause the heart to pump less
efficiently.
Many different types of arrhythmias may occur in children, including:
a fast heart rate (tachycardia), the most common type found in children being
supraventricular tachycardia
a slow heart rate (bradycardia)
long Q-T Syndrome (LQTS)
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome)
8. CONTI........
• Symptoms may include:
I. weakness
II. fatigue
III. dizziness
IV. fainting
V. difficulty feeding
VI. Treatments depend on the type of arrhythmia and how it’s affecting
the child’s health.
9. Kawasaki Dsease
• Kawasaki disease is a rare disease that primarily affects children and can cause
inflammation in the blood vessels in their hands, feet, mouth, lips, and throat. It also
produces a fever and swelling in the lymph nodes. Researchers aren’t sure yet what causes it.
• According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the illness is a major cause of heart
conditions in as many as 1 in 4 children. Most are under the age of 5.
• Treatment depends on the extent of the disease, but often involves prompt treatment with
intravenous gamma globulin or aspirin (Bufferin). Corticosteroids can sometimes reduce
future complications. Children who suffer from this disease often require lifelong follow-up
appointments to keep an eye on heart health.
10. HeartMurmurs
• A heart murmur is a “whooshing” sound made by blood circulating
through the heart’s chambers or valves, or through blood vessels near the
heart. Often it’s harmless. Other times it may signal an underlying
cardiovascular problem.
• Heart murmurs may be caused by CHDs, fever, or anemia. If a doctor hears
an abnormal heart murmur in a child, they’ll perform additional tests to be
sure the heart is healthy. “Innocent” heart murmurs usually resolve by
themselves, but if the heart murmur is caused by a problem with the heart,
it may require additional treatment.
11. Pericarditis
• This condition occurs when the thin sac or membrane that surrounds
the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed or infected. The amount of
fluid between its two layers increases, impairing the heart’s ability to
pump blood like it should.
• Pericarditis may occur after surgery to repair a CHD, or it may be
caused by bacterial infections, chest traumas, or connective tissue
disorders like lupus. Treatments depend on the severity of the disease,
the child’s age, and their overall health.
12. Rheumatic HeartDisease
• When left untreated, the streptococcus bacteria that cause strep throat and
scarlet fever can also cause rheumatic heart disease.
• This disease can seriously and permanently damage the heart valves and the
heart muscle (by causing heart muscle inflammation, known as
myocarditis). According to Seattle Children’s Hospital, rheumatic fever
typically occurs in children ages 5 to 15, but usually the symptoms of
rheumatic heart disease don’t show up for 10 to 20 years after the original
illness. Rheumatic fever and subsequent rheumatic heart disease are now
uncommon in the U.S.
• This disease can be prevented by promptly treating strep throat with
13. Viral Infections
• Viruses, in addition to causing respiratory illness or the flu, can also
affect heart health. Viral infections can cause myocarditis, which may
affect the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.
• Viral infections of the heart are rare and may show few symptoms.
When symptoms do appear, they’re similar to flu-like symptoms,
including fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort.
Treatment involves medications and treatments for the symptoms of
myocarditis.
14. Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle becomes overly thick or stiffens. It
has several symptoms that may be difficult to immediately link to heart disease.
These symptoms include:
I. shortness of breath
II. swollen lower legs, ankles, or feet
III. bloating
IV. fatigue
V. a pounding or fluttering pulse
15. PulmonaryHypertension
• Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in
your lungs and the right side of your heart.
• In one form of pulmonary hypertension, tiny arteries in your lungs, called pulmonary
arterioles, and capillaries become narrowed, blocked or destroyed. This makes it harder
for blood to flow through your lungs, and raises pressure within your lungs' arteries.
As the pressure builds, your heart's lower right chamber (right ventricle) must work
harder to pump blood through your lungs, eventually causing your heart muscle to
weaken and fail.
• Some forms of pulmonary hypertension are serious conditions that become
progressively worse and are sometimes fatal. Although some forms of pulmonary
hypertension aren't curable, treatment can help lessen symptoms and improve your
quality of life.
16. Myocarditis
• Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle.
Although the exact incidence of myocarditis is not known, it is estimated that several
thousand patients per year are diagnosed in the United States. Myocarditis usually
attacks otherwise healthy people. It is believed that 5 to 20% of all cases of sudden
death in young adults are due to myocarditis.
• There are many causes of myocarditis, including viral infections, autoimmune diseases,
environmental toxins, and adverse reactions to medications. The prognosis is variable
but chronic heart failure is the major long term complication. Myocarditis and the
associated disorder of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy are the cause of
approximately 45% of heart transplants in the United state
