Children's heart diseases - Dr. Mehdi Afshari, specialist in newborns, children and adolescents
Children's heart diseases
The heart plays a vital role in maintaining the life and health of children, and any defect or malfunction in its function can have serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences.
Children's heart diseases are one of the important challenges of children's medicine, which can be formed from the fetal period or after birth due to various reasons. A deeper understanding of these diseases, their causes, accurate diagnosis methods, new treatments and the role of specialized care can help improve the quality of life of affected children.
Anatomy and physiology of children's heart
Children's heart consists of four main chambers (two atria and two ventricles) that pump blood to the lungs and other organs. The heart structure of children is growing during the fetal period and some defects may be formed during this period.
The proper functioning of the valves, heart muscle, coronary arteries and electrical conduction system of the heart is vital to maintain the proper functioning of the heart. Any defect in any of these components can lead to heart disorders.
Congenital heart diseases
Classification of congenital heart diseases
Congenital heart diseases are divided into two main categories:
- Cyanotic diseases: which cause a decrease in blood oxygen level and cyanosis (bruising of the skin and mucous membranes). Such as tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of great vessels.
- Non-cyanotic diseases: which are usually associated with impaired blood flow without oxygen depletion, such as inter-atrial and ventricular perforations.
Tetralogy of Fallot
It is one of the most complicated congenital heart diseases, which includes four important defects:
- Interventricular foramen
- Pulmonary valve narrowing (pulmonary stenosis)
- Displacement of the aortic artery
- Enlargement of the right ventricle
These defects cause oxygen-rich blood and oxygen-poor blood to mix together, and the child suffers from cyanosis.
Transposition of the Great Arteries
In this case, the aorta and pulmonary artery are displaced, which causes oxygen-free blood to circulate to the body and oxygen-rich blood to the lungs. This disease requires urgent surgery
Pediatric acquired heart diseases: details and mechanisms
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever usually occurs a few weeks after strep throat bacterial infection. This disease causes inflammation and damage to the heart valves, which can lead to narrowing or failure of the valves and cause long-term heart problems.
Cardiomyopathies of children
Cardiomyopathies include several types:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: widening of the ventricles and reduced pumping power
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that causes impaired filling of the ventricles
- Limited cardiomyopathy: reduced flexibility of the heart muscle
Infective endocarditis
A serious infection of the heart valves that can be caused by bacteria in the blood. This disease requires immediate treatment with antibiotics and sometimes surgery.
Risk factors and prevention
Genetic and environmental factors
Many congenital heart diseases have a genetic background. Some chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome are associated with heart diseases. Also, exposure of the mother to harmful drugs, infections, and toxic substances during pregnancy is one of the important environmental factors.Prevention
- Care before and during pregnancy including taking folic acid
- Mother vaccination (such as rubella vaccine)
- Controlling infections and avoiding harmful substances during pregnancy
- Perform prenatal screenings for early diagnosis
Specialized diagnosis of children's heart diseases
Clinical examinations
Hearing heart murmurs and clinical symptoms can be the first sign of the disease.
Color echocardiography
The main and non-invasive tool for observing the structure and function of the heart, determining the type and severity of defects.
Electrophysiological tests
Heart strip and specialized tests to check rhythm and electrical conduction.
cardiac catheterization
both diagnostic and therapeutic, especially to correct some defects and perform minimally invasive interventions.
Advanced treatments and long-term management
Advanced surgeries
Today, with the advancement of heart surgery technology, many congenital diseases are caused by
Complementary drug treatment
Drugs such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and anticoagulants are used to manage heart failure and reduce symptoms.
Heart transplant
In severe cases when the usual treatments are not effective, a heart transplant can be the last solution.
Psychological and social care of a child with heart disease
Heart diseases can have significant psychological effects on children and their families:
- Anxiety and worry about health and future
- Limitation of physical and social activities
- need for psychological support and special training
The role of parents and family in disease management
- Awareness and education about the disease and treatment
- Careful monitoring of medications and daily care
- Cooperation with cardiac rheumatism Heart in children
drafshari June 18, 20250 222 It takes 3 minutes to read this article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest Reddit VKontakte Share by email Print
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