Some children are born with heart problems, known as congenital heart disease. They occur as a result of malformation of the heart during development in the womb. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics reports that the most common types of heart conditions in children are structural heart defects such as congenital heart defects. Heart disease in children can also be acquired from illnesses such rheumatic fever and Kawasaki disease.
Holes in the Heart
Two common congenital heart diseases are atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. In atrial septal defect, there is a hole between the two atria of the heart. In ventricular septal defect, there is a hole between the two ventricles. These holes cause oxygenated blood to move from the left side of the heart to the right side and then to the lungs. This can lead to accumulation of blood in the lungs and heart failure if the hole is big. If the hole is small, a child may experience no symptoms. Despite this fact, the Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute advises that children with small holes in the heart should be monitored by a cardiologist.
Obstructive Congenital Heart Defects
Some children are born with heart problems like pulmonary valvular stenosis and coarctation the the aorta. These conditions obstruct the flow of blood through the heart. Normally blood flows from the right ventricle into the lungs through the pulmonary artery. There is a valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. When this valve is stenosed, or narrow, blood isn't able to move freely to the lungs. This condition is known as pulmonary valvular stenosis, and it can lead to low blood oxygen levels, along with fatigue. The aorta supplies oxygenated blood to every part of the body. In coarctation of the aorta, part of the aorta is narrow, which prevents free blood flow. It can also lead to low oxygen in the blood.
Acquired Heart Diseases
Children acquire heart diseases due to factors like infection and for also unknown reasons. Kawasaki disease and rheumatic fever are the two major causes of acquired heart disease in children living in the United States, notes the American Heart Association. The cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown, but it typically affects children younger than five years and occurs more frequently in boys. It causes inflammation of the heart and damages the coronary arteries and heart valves. Kawasaki disease can lead to a heart attack. Rheumatic heart disease is caused by a throat infection and leads to damaged heart valves. It usually occurs in children between five and 15 years old.
References
- American Heart Association: Rheumatic Heart Disease / Rheumatic Fever
- American Heart Association: Kawasaki Disease
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics: Children and Heart Disease: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Types of Congenital Heart Defects
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Pediatric Heart Conditions and Problems: Signs, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Treatments
