According to the American Heart Association, every year about 36,000 children are born with heart disease in the United States. These conditions, which are referred to as "congenital" defects, meaning present at birth, usually involve the chambers, blood vessels and valves of the heart. Some heart diseases in children can be acquired as a result of childhood diseases.
Atrial Septal Defect
The two upper chambers of the heart are called the atria. They are separated by a wall, or septum. An atrial septal defect is a hole in the septum that separates the left atrium from the right atrium. This hole allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium instead of to the left ventricle, which supplies blood to the rest of the body via the aorta. The National Heart Blood and Lung Institute states that children may not exhibit any symptoms with this type of heart disease, and that half of all atrial septal defects close on their own. Larger holes may require surgery.
Coarctation of the Aorta
The aorta is a blood vessel that transports oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to every organ in the body. A coarctation of the aorta involves narrowing of the aorta. This restricts blood flow out of the heart, which forces the left ventricle to work harder to push blood into the aorta and out of the heart. Symptoms of this pediatric heart disease include different blood pressure values in the arms and legs: the pressure in the arms is higher, while the pulses in the groin or leg are weak. Coarctation of the aorta can be treated with surgery.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that typically affects children between the ages of 5 and 15, but can also affect younger children and adults. It occurs as a result of a poorly treated or untreated throat infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. Rheumatic fever involves inflammation of the heart and can subsequently lead to rheumatic heart disease, a condition in which the heart valves become damaged. Some symptoms of this acquired heart disease include fever, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue. Rheumatic heart disease can be prevented by prompt and effective treatment of the group A streptococcus bacteria throat infection, also known as strep throat.
References
- American Heart Association: Cardiac Disease in Children: Statistics
- National Heart Blood and Lung Institute: Types of Congenital Heart Defects
- American Heart Association: If Your Child Has a Congenital Heart Defect - Our guide for parents
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Coarctation of the Aorta
- American Heart Association: Rheumatic Heart Disease / Rheumatic Fever
