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Pediatric Cardiology deals with the irregularities and heart diseases that are seen in kids below the age of 18. The heart of a baby is developed during the first six weeks of pregnancy. During this time, all the major blood vessels that run to and from the heart also develop while the heart beats. It is usually around this time that congenital heart defects develop in the baby. Even though nobody is sure what exactly causes most of these defects, researchers believe genetics, certain medical conditions, medications and environmental and lifestyle factors of parents like smoking might contribute to them. 

What is a pediatric cardiologist?

Pediatric cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating kids suffering from heart problems. If you are looking at pediatric cardiology in India, doctors need more specialized training and qualification to be able to diagnose, treat, and manage heart problems in children.  

Signs and symptoms of heart defects

There are many children with heart defects that show no symptoms and appear healthy. Sometimes symptoms develop in the first few weeks after they are born. Babies with heart defects exhibit symptoms like the following as a result of reduced oxygen supply because the heart is not pumping as well as it should

• blue coloration around the lips and blue skin (cyanosis)
• difficulty feeding (especially becoming sweaty during feeds)
• shortness of breath
• poor growth/ weight gain
• pale skin
• Fatigue

When it comes to toddlers, parents can be on the lookout for the following signs

• Poor development
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Passing out, although it might be rare
• Seizures
• Fatigue and shortness of breath

While pediatric cardiac conditions in newborns and toddlers are congenital, heart problems in  teenagers can develop  a number of heart conditions over time as a result of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity etc. Signs and symptoms of heart problems in teenagers include:

• Passing out during physical activities
• Arrhythmia
• Excessive shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Episodes of seizures

Complications of heart defect in children 

Congestive heart failure

Babies with significant heart defects may experience heart failure. . Look for signs like rapid breathing, often with gasping breaths, and poor weight gain.

Heart infections

Congenital heart defects can increase the risk of infection of the heart tissue that can lead to new heart valve problems.

Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

They can either be as a result of the defect itself or as a result of scarring from heart surgery.

Slower growth and development (developmental delays)

Children with serious congenital heart defects can develop and grow more slowly than others. It can even affect the nervous system, as a result of which the child may learn to walk and talk later than other children.

Stroke

Even though it is rarely seen, children with congenital heart defects are at increased risk of stroke due to blood clots traveling through a hole in the heart and on to the brain. Also, Read:Cardiac Rehabilitation:Recovering And Thriving

Treatment for pediatric heart defects

Treatment for pediatric heart defects at the pediatric hospital depends on the cause of the problem. Usually heart defects are resolved in time by themselves. 

Medication

If they don’t resolve on their own, pediatric cardiologists prescribe medications. Some of them can be stopped once the defect is rectified while some others may need to be taken for the whole life.

Surgery

In more serious cases, when medicine does not work, your child may need different types of pediatric cardiac surgery to rectify the problem. The surgery may also come with related medication or even multiple operations. In some cases, your child may need a combination of treatments in pediatric cardiac care. 

Catheterization

Interventional cardiac catheterization can help repair heart defects in children without surgically opening the heart. In this treatment, pediatric specialists make use of catheters, (thin plastic tubes via legs or neck). It offers quick recovery as compared to the traditional surgical method.

Transplantation

Sometimes, none of the above procedures work and if in that case, the only way left is a transplant. But a heart transplantation comes with the following risks

• Failure of the transplant
• Infection, especially from anti rejection medicines
• Heart failure
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Lung problems

Prevention of pediatric cardiac conditions

Since we do not know the exact cause of most congenital heart defects, it is not possible to specify preventive measures. Genetic testing and screening can be done if you know that you are at a high risk of giving birth to a child with congenital heart disease. There are some steps you can take to help reduce your child’s overall risk of birth defects like the following

• Get proper prenatal care with regular checkups 
• Take a multivitamin with folic acid.
• Don’t drink or smoke. 
• Control blood sugar. 
• Manage chronic health conditions like phenylketonuria
• Avoid harmful substances
• Check with your provider before taking any medications because some of them can cause birth defects. 

If you notice symptoms of heart defect in your child, visit the best pediatric cardiologist as soon as possible.