There are heart conditions that are commonly found among children. These include arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, heart murmurs, Kawasaki disease, and rheumatic fever.
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is another term for irregular heartbeat. Usually, irregularity happens during respiration. For kids with this condition, the heart rate speeds up when he/she breathes in and slows down when he/she breathes out. This irregular heart rate that comes with respiration is known as sinus arrhythmia.
In some cases, a pediatrician may discover other types of arrhythmia and further tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis. Oftentimes, the doctor would recommend seeing a pediatric cardiologist to further evaluate your kid.
There are usually no symptoms when it comes to arrhythmia. Doctors would typically assess the kid's medical history to determine the severity of the condition. He/she will usually ask if the child is aware of the unusual pulses, if the abnormal heart rhythm is brought about by something else, if the kid feels dizzy or experience lightheadedness, or if there is weakness associated with the condition.
Cardiomyopathy
The term "cardiomyopathy" refers to abnormalities of the muscle fibers which contract with each pulse. A child may have a primary or a secondary type of cardiomyopathy.
It's a primary case of cardiomyopathy if it is not caused by any other condition. Primary cardiomyopathy usually results from gene mutation. It is a secondary type of cardiomyopathy if the condition results from other disorders that affect the functionality of the heart.
Cardiomyopathy typically affects kids aged 12 to 18 years old and under 12 months.
Heart Murmurs
Heart murmurs are usually due to faulty heart valves. This happens when a stenotic heart valve has a smaller-than-standard opening and can not fully open and close. This results in regurgitation on which the blood leaks backward.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is an illness characterized by fever, swelling of the hands and feet, rash, eye irritation, eye redness, swollen lymph glands, and inflammation and irritation of the mouth, lips and throat.
Kawasaki disease is seldom serious but it can lead to long-term heart complications. The heart damage caused by Kawasaki disease occasionally occurs to the blood vessels and to the heart muscle itself. This weakening of coronary artery can result in swelling of the blood vessel wall.
This disease is common in the United States and is one of the major causes of heart problems among kids aged 2 to 5 years old.
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is a form of inflammation that usually occurs after a streptococcal infection of the throat. Not all strep throat infections lead to rheumatic fever but when they do, it takes about 2 to 4 weeks for the rheumatic fever to develop.
Rheumatic fever is commonly found among children aged 5 to 15 years old.
When you notice any of these conditions to your kids, it's important to consult a pediatric cardiologist ASAP to start the medical intervention immediately. Many of these diseases can be life-threatening if left unmanaged.
