Causes of Congenital Heart Defects and its identification and diagnosis

Other Names for Congenital Heart Defects are

Congenital heart disease; Cyanotic heart disease; Heart defects; and Congenital cardiovascular malformations
Causes of Congenital Heart Defects

Doctors do not know what causes most cases of congenital heart defects. Heredity may play a role. In rare cases, more than one child in a family is born with a heart defect. Also, parents who have a congenital heart defect may be more likely than other parents to have a child with the condition.Babies who have certain other birth defects, such as Down syndrome, are also more likely to have congenital heart defects.Other factors that raise the risk for congenital heart defects are:· Having viral infections, such as German measles (rubella), during pregnancy· Having diabetes· Taking some types of prescription or over-the-counter medicines during pregnancy· Being repeatedly exposed to some chemicals or x rays during pregnancy· Using alcohol or street drugs during pregnancyResearch continues to find the causes of congenital heart defects.

The Signs and Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects

The most common signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects are:· A heart murmur· A bluish tint to skin, lips, and fingernails ("blue baby")· Fast breathing· Shortness of breath· Poor feeding, especially in infants because they tire easily while nursing· Poor weight gain in infants· Tiring easily during exercise or activity (older children)The signs and symptoms that a child has depend on:· The number and types of defects· The severity of the defectSome infants and children have no signs or symptoms. Others have severe or life-threatening symptoms.Many types of congenital heart defects cause the heart to work harder than it should. This stresses the heart and can lead to heart failure, causing the heart muscle to weaken and the heart to enlarge.

The Congenital Heart Defects Diagnosed: How?

Doctors usually diagnose congenital heart defects during pregnancy or within the first few months after birth. Some children with less severe defects are not diagnosed until they are older and more demands are put on their hearts. Others are not diagnosed until they are adults.If your child's doctor suspects a congenital heart defect, he or she will refer your child to a specialist who treats heart problems in children. The specialist, a pediatric cardiologist, will take a family and medical history, do a physical exam, and order several tests. Physical ExamDuring the physical exam, the doctor: · Listens to your child's heart with a stethoscope for a heart murmur · Looks for signs of illness or physical problems, such as bluish color of skin and lips, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and delayed growth· Listens to your child's lungsTestsAn echocardiogram is the test most often used to diagnose congenital heart defects. This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart. An echocardiogram helps diagnose heart failure and problems with how the heart is formed.During pregnancy, if your doctor suspects that your baby has a congenital heart defect, a special test called a fetal echocardiogram can be done. This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the baby's heart while he or she is still in the womb. The test is usually done during the fifth month of pregnancy. If your child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect before birth, your doctor can plan treatment before the baby is born.Other tests used to help diagnose congenital heart defects include:· ECG or EKG (electrocardiogram). An ECG test measures the rate and regularity of your child's heartbeat.· Chest x ray. A chest x ray takes a picture of your child's heart and lungs. It can show if the heart is enlarged or if there is fluid in the lungs.· Pulse oximetry (ok-SIM-eh-tree). This test uses a sensor to see how well your child's lungs are passing oxygen to the blood and whether there is any mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood. The sensor is placed on the child's fingertip or toe (like an adhesive bandage). A small computer unit shows the amount of oxygen in the blood through the skin. The test does not hurt.· Cardiac catheterization. In this test, a thin flexible tube is passed through an artery or vein at the upper thigh (groin) or in the arm to reach the heart. With the assistance of x rays, the doctor can then see your child's blood vessels and heart. The catheter also measures the pressure inside the heart and blood vessels and can determine if blood is mixing between the two sides of the heart. Sometimes, a dye that can be seen by x ray is injected into the heart. This enables the doctor to see the flow of blood throughout the heart and blood vessels.