Infant Heart Murmurs: Explanation, Causes, and Further Details
In the world of paediatric health, abnormal heart murmurs can be a cause for concern. These extra whooshing, rasping, or humming sounds between heartbeats, caused by turbulent blood flow in the heart, can indicate underlying heart conditions that require attention.
Common Causes of Abnormal Heart Murmurs
The most frequent underlying cause of abnormal heart murmurs in children is congenital heart disease (CHD), which involves defects present at birth affecting the heart walls, valves, or blood vessels. Common congenital defects causing murmurs include ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), valve stenosis, and valve regurgitation. Other causes include infections like endocarditis and acquired conditions such as cardiomyopathy or rheumatic heart disease.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase the likelihood of a child developing an abnormal heart murmur. These include genetic conditions like Down syndrome and trisomies, a family history of heart defects, maternal infections during pregnancy (especially rubella), maternal exposure to harmful substances like alcohol, drugs, or certain medications during pregnancy, and maternal health issues such as poorly controlled diabetes.
Treatment Options
Treatment options depend on the cause and severity of the murmur. For innocent (physiological) murmurs, no treatment is needed as these do not indicate structural problems and often resolve as the child grows. For pathological murmurs due to congenital defects, treatment may include surgical repair or transcatheter interventions to correct defects such as VSD or ASD. Medical management for complications like heart failure, arrhythmias, or pulmonary hypertension (e.g., pharmacologic therapy) may also be necessary. For murmurs caused by infections like endocarditis, antibiotic therapy is critical. Follow-up monitoring with echocardiography and other imaging is crucial for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment planning.
Grading the Intensity of a Heart Murmur
Doctors use a grading scale of 1-6 to determine the intensity of a heart murmur, with 1 being very faint and 6 being very loud. The doctor may prescribe medications, perform regular checkups and testing, and recommend different procedures or surgeries depending on the underlying disorder. Innocent heart murmurs are louder when a person is excited, has a fever, or a cold.
Summary
In summary, abnormal heart murmurs in children often reflect underlying congenital or acquired heart conditions requiring diagnosis by echocardiography and tailored treatment ranging from observation to surgery or pharmacotherapy based on the severity and type of defect or cause. Parents and caregivers should be aware of signs such as faster breathing, cyanosis, shortness of breath, sweating during feeds, clammy skin, difficulty breastfeeding or eating, and difficulty feeding leading to insufficient weight gain, which may indicate a more serious issue. If a healthcare professional suspects that a child has a heart problem, they may refer the child to a pediatric cardiologist.
- In the realm of medical-health and wellness, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, in collaboration with the medical field, is conducting extensive research to develop effective treatments for children with heart conditions that often present as abnormal heart murmurs.
- The Cardiovascular Health division of Pfizer is actively engaged in exploring ways to address childhood heart conditions by funding scientific studies focused on diagnosing and managing these conditions, including the use of innovative technologies such as echocardiography.
- As part of their commitment to children's health, Pfizer is also working on blocking the progression of certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease, which can lead to heart murmurs, to ensure the overall health and well-being of the children they aim to serve.
