4 Types of heart disease in children that often occur

Not only in adults, heart disease is also common in children. This disease can be congenital or can also be due to long-term conditions that are not detected. So, what are the common heart diseases in children? Here's the review for you.

Heart disease in children is common

There are several types of heart disease commonly experienced by children, including:

1. Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease or congenital heart disease is a birth defect in the fetus that occurs as a result of abnormal embryo development.

Quoting from the official website of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), this condition occurs in 7-8 out of every 1000 newborns.

The high incidence of congenital heart disease makes it the most common congenital disorder in children.

Children with congenital heart disease have structural problems, such as:

There is a heart leak due to a hole in the heart divider
Narrowing or blockage of the valve or blood vessels leading to the heart
Mitral valve stenosis

These structural abnormalities can be single or a combination that causes complex congenital heart disease.

Other forms of congenital heart disease are:

Heart failure that causes parts of the heart to develop underneath
Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of fallot is a combination of four other syndromes namely pulmonary embolism, ventricular septal abnormalities, equestrian aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

There are two types of congenital heart disease in children, namely:

Blue congenital heart disease (cyanotic)

This is a type of congenital heart disease in children that causes a bluish color (cyanosis) of the skin and mucous membranes.

Especially on the tongue or lips because of the lack of oxygen levels in the blood.

Quoting from Motts Children Hospitan Micighan, cyanotic congenital heart disease is divided into several types, namely:

Tetralogy of fallot (combination of four disorders, pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic overriding)
Pulmonary atertia (a lung disorder that causes blood from the heart to return to the lungs)
Truncus arteriosus (one large artery leaving the heart which should be in two arteries)
Tricuspid valve abnormalities (tricuspid valve that doesn't form properly or doesn't form at all)

Pay attention if your little one experiences the above.

Non cyanotic congenital heart disease

This is a congenital heart disease in children that does not cause a bluish color. This condition generally causes characteristics of heart failure in children, which are characterized by:

Shortness of breath during activity
Swelling of the face
Stomach
Growth disorders that cause children to be malnourished

To recognize the symptoms of congenital heart disease in children, doctors usually detect signs of heart failure, blueness, or hear abnormal heart sounds.

Non-cyanotic congenital heart disease is divided into several types:

Ventricular septal defect (there is a hole in the wall between the ventricles)
Atrial septal defect (leakage of the heart chambers)
Patent ductus arteriosus (the two main arteries of the heart do not close completely after the baby is born)
Pulmonary valve stenosis (narrowing of the valve, where blood passes from the heart to the lungs)
Aortic valve stenosis (there is an opening between the four chambers of the heart when the baby is born)
Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of some of the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body)

However, congenital heart disease often does not give typical symptoms when a newborn is born.

This is because the blood circulation and respiratory system of the baby is still undergoing a transition from fetal to postnatal period.

Some of the risk factors for congenital heart disease in children are:

Genetic or innate
Environmental factor
Cigarette exposure during pregnancy (active or passive smoking)
Take certain drugs
Infection in pregnancy
Diabetes mellitus
Certain genetic syndromes or disorders (for example, Down syndrome)

The thing to note is that heart formation occurs early in pregnancy and is completed at 4 weeks of fetal age.

So, it is important to maintain health and nutritional intake during pregnancy, including early pregnancy.

To treat congenital heart disease, you need to take it to a doctor for further treatment.

2. Atherosclerosis

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, atherosclerosis is the formation of plaque from fat and cholesterol in the arteries.

When plaque builds up, the blood vessels become stiff and narrow, making your child more at risk of developing blood clots and eventually a heart attack.

This is a long-term condition and often goes undetected.

Children and adolescents are rarely affected by this disease. However, they will be at risk if they experience obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health problems.

Atherosclerosis is caused by damage or injury to the inner lining of an artery. The damage was caused by:

High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Inflammation
Obesity
Pregnant women have a habit of smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages

If the child is overweight and obese, the doctor will usually recommend checking for cholesterol levels and blood pressure regularly.

In addition, this will also be done if anyone in your family has a history of heart disease and diabetes.

3. Arrhythmias

This disease is a condition of heart defects in children. Quoting from the Cleveland Clinic, arrhythmia is a condition of an irregular heartbeat or a disturbance in the rhythm of the heartbeat.

This means that the heart can beat faster or slower.

Sometimes the heartbeat can be irregular only at certain times, this is called sinus arrhythmias.

Arrhythmias are included in congenital heart disease in children which are grouped into 4 types of arrhythmias, namely:

Bradycardia (very weak heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute)
Premature heartbeat (There is a brief pause followed by a stronger heartbeat when the heart rhythm returns to regularity)
Supraventricular arrhythmias
Ventricular arrhythmias

For supraventricular arrhythmias, the problem occurs in the atria or atria of the heart.

Supraventricular artimia is divided into several cases, namely:

Atrial fibrillation (fast heart rate of more than 400 beats per minute)
Atrial flutter (heart rate 250-350 beats per minute)
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate due to disturbed electrical signals)

Meanwhile, ventricular arrhythmias, which are heart rate abnormalities in the lower chambers, are divided into:

Ventricular tachycardia (heart rate greater than 200 beats per minute).
Ventricular fibrillation (interruption of electrical signals makes the ventricles vibrate, causing the heart to suddenly stop).

Your little one can experience heart disease because of several risks, namely:

Genetic factors
Certain habits during pregnancy (active or passive smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, taking certain drugs)
Gender, boys are more prone to heart problems
Environment

Exposure to pollution, especially gas and fine particles can also increase the risk of arrhythmias in the short term.

In diagnosing a child suffering from heart disease, the doctor will perform several tests, namely:

Check for swelling in the hands or feet
Check heart rhythm
Asking about the mother's habits during pregnancy and other family health history

After that, the doctor may perform further medical test procedures, such as blood tests or heart catheterization to see possible complications.

4. Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki is a rare heart disorder in children characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body, such as in the arms, hands, mouth, lips and throat.

This disease affects the lymph nodes and heart function.

Kawasaki is often found in infants and children, even this disease is one of the main causes of high cases of heart disease in infants and children.

Heart disease in children is common in East Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The highest number of cases of Kawasaki disease occurs in Japan with a frequency of 10-20 times higher than other countries.

The appearance of symptoms of heart disease in this child is divided into three phases.

The symptoms of heart disease in babies who have Kawasaki disease in the first phase are:

A high fever of more than 39 degrees Celsius that lasts more than 5 days
Very red eyes (conjunctivitis) without a build-up of fluid or discharge
Red, dry, cracked lips
Swelling and redness of the palms and feet
Children are more fussy and irritable

Meanwhile, the second phase starts 2 weeks after the child has the first fever. The characteristics of heart defects in babies such as:

Exfoliation on the skin of the hands and feet, especially on the tips of the toes
Joint pain
Gag
Diarrhea
Stomach ache

For the third phase, signs and symptoms will disappear slowly, except for complications. It may take about 8 weeks for the child's condition to return to normal.

Kawasaki disease is one of the main causes of heart attacks in children. At least 20 percent of people with Kawasaki experience heart complications.

You should immediately see your child to the doctor if your little one already shows the signs or symptoms mentioned above.

If you see that you are not feeling well or your heart is beating faster than usual, immediately consult a doctor to get your child treated properly.