Congenital Heart Disease; Tips for Parents for Early Detection and Treatment

World Heart Day 2020 Image: This day is observed on September 29th every year

World Heart Day 2020: With the increase in COVID-19 cases in India, the whole country is focusing on controlling the spread of the infection. Medical organizations and governments have developed treatment protocols to support drug and vaccine testing. As we expand our fight against the new coronavirus, we are becoming more aware of the impact of COVID-19 on high-risk patients and patients with existing serious illnesses. Many of these patients were unable to receive adequate care and treatment during the blockade due to limited access to medical resources and fear of going to a doctor or hospital. One such group is children with heart disease due to congenital heart disease.

World Heart Day 2020: Here’s what you need to know about congenital heart disease:

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital disorder in newborns and affects about 8 out of 1,000 babies. It refers to a defect in the formation of the baby’s heart since birth. About a quarter of these CHDs are serious cases, which means that surgery is required within the first year of life. Many babies with critical CHD show symptoms early, which leads to early detection and treatment. Other cases will not be diagnosed until much later. This delay in detection can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality, which makes timely treatment important.

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The setback in terms of early detection results from the lack of awareness and resources available to the lower socio-economic section of society. The pandemic has just joined these challenges. From early pregnancy, it is important to monitor the health of the baby and make parents aware of the importance of ensuring proper nutrition for the child’s development in utero.

Parents need to monitor their baby’s health and ensure proper nutrition for their child’s development
Photo credit: iStock

Congenital Heart Disease: Knowing the Symptoms

According to the United Kingdom National Health Service, some common signs of congenital heart disease are:

• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Swelling around the eyes, legs and tummy
• Swelling of hands, ankles and feet
• The skin was bluish
• Shortness of breath while eating. It becomes difficult to gain weight.

Symptoms of congenital heart disease occur shortly after birth in severe cases. Symptoms may not develop until teens or early adulthood. At this age, this condition can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, malaise, and fainting during exercise, among other symptoms.

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Congenital Heart Defects: Important Tips for Parents

• Parents need to educate themselves about their symptoms. This enables early detection and prevents negligence due to lack of information.
• Checking the family history of CHD or an existing genetic syndrome, or checking if the mother is suffering from any medical condition or infection, is important for monitoring the baby.
• In addition, parents should also be aware of a slight increase in risk if they are giving birth to a child by reproductive techniques such as fertility drugs or in vitro fertilization.
• It is necessary to emphasize the importance of avoiding smoking and drinking and eating a balanced diet.
• Ultrasonography and echocardiography can also help monitor and detect your baby’s health.

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While these measures do not guarantee prevention, they do allow for proper care and early diagnosis, which is essential to reduce the risk of future complications. Knowledge of these symptoms and conditions can also help new parents monitor their child’s health and seek immediate help if CHD is suspected. Surgery performed early in a serious case prolongs life expectancy and helps the patient lead a near-normal life. In addition, a healthy lifestyle, prescription medications, and regular testing can help prevent future complications and exacerbations. Especially today, because of the risk of COVID-19, these measures are beneficial in eliminating life-threatening conditions as a result of infection with the virus.

(Dr. Bushan Chavan, Consultant, Pediatric Cardiology, Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai)

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