Many different kinds of cardiac disorders occur in children, but they can be classified into two main groups, according to The Children's Hospital-Denver. In congenital disorders, the child was born with the problem. In acquired disorders, the child's heart is normal at birth and problems develop later. Some problems may be instantly diagnosable, depending on their severity, while others become apparent later on in life. With proper treatment and monitoring, children with cardiac disorders can thrive.
Atrial Septal Defect
An atrial septal defect (ASD), typically called a "hole in the heart," is a congenital heart defect in which the wall between the two chambers of the atria, the septum, has an opening in it. This allows oxygenated blood from the left atrium into the right atrium, where it mixes with the blood that is not oxygenated and increases the blood flow to the lungs. This creates a heart murmur. According to KidsHealth.org, ASD can be genetic, but many cases have no single identifiable cause. Treatment depends on where the hole is in the septum and how big it is. Very small defects can heal on their own, but most children with this condition require surgery with either catheterization or open-heart surgery if the hole has not closed by the time they start school.
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is actually four different heart conditions that occur concurrently, according to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. These four conditions are pulmonary stenosis, or the narrowing of the pulmonary valve and the area below the valve, causing blockage between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery; ventricular septal defect, which is a hole between the two chambers of the heart; an overriding aorta, which means the aortic valve is enlarged; and right ventricular hypertrophy, which is a thickening of the walls of the right ventricle. Symptoms can include heart murmur, a bluish appearance due to lack of oxygenated blood and rapid breathing. Depending on the oxygen level in the blood, treatment consists of one or more surgeries, typically around 6 months of age.
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is a narrowing of the aorta, the main blood vessel that enables blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body. This narrowing may occur anywhere along the aorta. When this happens, the left side of the heart needs to work even harder in order to ensure that blood flows through the aorta, even though it is narrowed. The narrowing can be very minor and not even noticeable or it can be a major constriction that impacts the left ventricle of the heart. KidsHealth.org estimates that COA makes up approximately 8 percent of congenital heart problems. Diagnosis typically occurs when the child is young, but in minor cases, the defect may not be diagnosed until adolescence. Symptoms may include cold legs and feet, chest pain and trouble catching the breath, particularly during exercise. Through an electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, MRI or CT scan, an accurate picture of the heart can be obtained. Severe COAs are typically treated with surgery soon after birth. In other cases, a balloon angioplasty may be done, a stent may be placed in the heart, or the narrowed part of the aorta may be removed and the two ends joined.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease, also called Kawasaki syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is one of the main causes of acquired heart disease in children in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The large majority of children with this disease are diagnosed by the time they are 5 years old, and it is rarely diagnosed in children over 8 years of age. Symptoms include swollen hands and feet, rash, irritation and redness in the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph nodes and inflammation in the mouth and throat. Although a definitive cause is not known, it is hypothesized that a virus causes this disease. The AHA estimates that 15 to 25 percent of children who have Kawasaki disease have heart damage; in most cases, the coronary arteries are weakened. The heart may also be inflamed, as well as the sac surrounding the heart, and abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias may occur. These heart problems typically resolve in five to six weeks but can be life-long in some individuals. Treatment can include aspirin to reduce fever and inflammation, and intravenous gamma globulin can be given early in the disease to help reduce the risk of coronary artery damage.
