Congenital Heart Disease In Children: What Are The Symptoms?

Congenital heart disease is medically defined as a heart abnormality or defect present at the time of birth in a child. It is common and can affect the heart walls, the heart valve and the blood vessels. There are many types of congenital heart defects, some can be simple while others can be pretty complex and can cause a threat to your little one’s life.

It is important to know about the various symptoms of congenital heart disease, so that timely measures can be taken to cure the problem. 

Take a note if your baby has the following symptoms within the first few hours of birth:

• Pale gray or blue skin color due to excessive venous flow in the system
• Excessive sweating
• Trouble in breathing
• Rapid breathing causes added load on the heart accompanied by a grunting noise
• Flared nostrils i.e. when the baby attempts to take in more oxygen with each breath it causes flared nostrils
• Swollen legs, eyes, and abdomen
• Clubbed fingernails
• Chest pain, which may cause the newborn to cry incessantly
• Low birth weight

Some symptoms manifest only during the teenage years or early adulthood which include:

• Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles due to fluid accumulation
• Lowered energy levels, leading to easy fatigue
• Shortness of breath with even minimal physical activity
• Inability to exercise
• Developmental delays and changes in growth 
• Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinus, bronchitis, and pneumonia
• Heart failure, where the heart is not able to effectively function and pump blood to all parts of the body

Serious congenital heart defects are often diagnosed before or soon after your child is born. If you notice that your child has any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately.