Frequently Asked Questions

For medical advice, please consult a doctor or trusted professional.

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

  • A: CHD is a cardiovascular disease that affects the structure of the heart or blood vessels and occurs when the heart doesn't develop normally during pregnancy. 

  • A: CHD can be caused by genetics. Smoking, drinking, or medication/ drug use can also cause CHD. Additionally, illnesses, such as Rubella, can cause CHD.

  • A: Symptoms include:

    • Rapid breathing or shortness of breath

    • Rapid heartbeat

    • Swelling in the legs, stomach, or around the eyes

    • Extreme fatigue

    • Blue coloring of the skin or lips

    • Failure to feed or develop normally

  • A: Mild defects often don’t require treatment. Treatment for more severe defects include: medication, cardiac catheterization, oxygen therapy, heart devices, and surgery. In some cases, a heart transplant may be needed.

  • A: CHD is diagnosed by:

    • Physical exam

    • Chest X-ray

    • Electrocardiogram

    • Echocardiogram

    • Heart catheterization

    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Cardiomyopathy & Pulmonary Hypertension

  • A: Cardiomyopathy is a disease affecting the heart muscle making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively.  “Cardiomyopathy is eight times more common in infants than in any other demographic,” says Dr. Jack F. Price, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist at Texas Children’s Hospital. There are three different types of cardiomyopathies: 

    ·       Dilated cardiomyopathy (the heart chambers become enlarged)

    ·       Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the heart muscle thickens)

    ·       Restrictive cardiomyopathy (the heart muscle becomes rigid)

  • A: Cardiomyopathy can often lead to pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs. It is a rare condition that can affect a person at any age.

  • A: Symptoms include: shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the legs, irregular heartbeat, fainting, chest pain, dizziness, and coughing when lying down. Pulmonary hypertension associated with cardiomyopathy can worsen symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and can substantially affect a patient's quality of life and prognosis. 

  • A: Echocardiography is typically used for diagnosing both cardiomyopathy and pulmonary hypertension.

  • A: Medications like beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics, can help manage symptoms of the disease..

Heart Murmurs & Arrythmias

  • A: A heart murmur is an extra sound in the heart. It can sound like a whoosh, hum, or rasp rather than a normal heart beat.

  • A: An arrhythmia is when the heart does not beat at a regular rhythm.

  • A: Arrhythmias can be caused by birth defects, heart disease, high blood pressure, medication, and various factors during pregnancy.

  • A: Heart murmurs can be caused by defective heart valves, congenital heart disorders, and anemia. Many children have harmless heart murmurs that don't require treatment.

  • A: Anyone can have a heart murmur or arrhythmia regardless of age. Arrythmias and heart murmurs can occur together.

  • A: Symptoms of an arrhythmia may include:

    • Heart palpitations

    • Slow heartbeat

    • Irregular heartbeat

    • Difficulty feeding

    • Shortness of breath

    • Difficulty exercising

    • Chest pain

    • Blue color to the lips

    • Light headedness

    • Fainting

    • Sweating

  • A: Treatment will depend on what kind of arrhythmia it is and how severe it is. Some arrythmias don’t require treatment. Others may be treated with medication or surgery.

  • A: While many heart murmurs and arrythmias are genetic, healthy lifestyle, regular physicals, and managing risk factors, like high blood pressure and cholesterol, can improve your overall heart health. Genetic counselors can sometimes tell parents if they are at risk of having a baby with a heart defect.

  • A: Call the doctor if your child has symptoms of arrhythmia or a heart murmur, including fast heartbeat, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or dizziness.

Kawasaki Disease

  • A: Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood disease that primarily affects kids under five and causes inflammation of the blood vessels and a high fever. Kawasaki disease is the most common acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. Kawasaki disease is treatable. However, if left untreated, it can cause serious damage to the coronary arteries.

  • A: Symptoms include a high fever that lasts at least five days, accompanied by many of these symptoms?

    ·       A skin rash that may appear between the chest and leg area or genital area 

    ·       Redness or swelling of the lips

    ·       Peeling skin on fingers and toes (typically in 2nd or 3rd week of illness)

    ·       A red tongue with a bumps or white spots, also known as a "strawberry tongue" 

    ·       Swollen lymph glands

    ·       Swollen and red hands and feet 

    ·       Red eyes 

  • A: Treatment involves several days of hospitalization and administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin therapy. In some cases, Corticosteroids are administered. If treated promptly, most patients recover within 6–8 weeks.

  • A: Children under 5 are at greatest risk, but children as old as 13 can get Kawasaki disease. It is more common in boys and children of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

  • A: Rheumatic heart disease is a heart condition that can occur in children after repeated strep throat infections or rheumatic fever. It can cause inflammation or scarring of the heart valves.

  • A: Symptoms of rheumatic fever include fever and can appear after a strep infection. Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease include shortness of breath, chest pain, and swelling.

  • A: Treatment varies, but treating strep infections with medicine like aspirin, penicillin, steroids, or anti-inflammatory drugs, helps in preventing rheumatic fever. If valve damage occurs, surgery may be required. 

  • A: A doctor can diagnose rheumatic heart disease by asking about recent strep infections, performing an examination, and administering tests like X-rays, echocardiograms, or electrocardiograms. 

  • A: Rheumatic heart disease is most common in children ages 5–15, but it can occur at any age. It is rare in the U.S.

Heart Infections

  • A: Myocarditis, pericarditis, and endocarditis are all infections which can cause heart problems in children.

  • A: Myocarditis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the heart muscle. Common viruses that can cause it include Parvovirus, Influenza, Adenovirus, and Coxsackie Virus. 

    Pericarditis is thought to be caused by underlying diseases or viral infections. Pericarditis is a debilitating condition that affects the pericardium, a thin membrane surrounding the heart, and causes the heart’s tissue to become swollen and inflamed.

    Endocarditis is a bacterial infection which targets the inner lining of the heart.

  • A: Symptoms of myocarditis include flu-like symptoms, including fever, tiredness, headache, chills, cough, or sore throat. Shortness of breath and skin changes are also symptoms.

    Symptoms of pericarditis are like that of a heart attack, including chest pain which can subside quickly or worsen over time. Other symptoms include low-grade fever, muscle weakness, and heart palpitations.

    Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly or suddenly and can include fever, chills, and sweating.

  • A: Treatment for myocarditis can include rest and medication. After treatment, some individuals can live the rest of their lives without symptoms while others may need ongoing or more serious care. While rare, myocarditis can reoccur.

  • A: Treatment varies but generally includes medication.

  • A: Antibiotics are used to treat endocarditis. In most cases, these can be administered in the hospital and patients will need to continue antibiotic treatment for 4-6 weeks after leaving the hospital. In rare cases, surgery to replace the heart valve may be required.