Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) in children, can it be cured or not?

Cardiomegaly is a condition in which the heart is enlarged or enlarged due to various other health conditions. Yes, the fact is that this condition can not only be experienced by adults, but children and even newborns can experience it. Then what if cardiomegaly occurs in children? What kind of treatment should be undertaken?

Cardiomegaly treatment in infants and children

The disease that causes the heart to enlarge can be caused by various things. But the most common cause of this condition is high blood pressure or various other heart diseases. However, in some cases this enlargement of the heart has occurred since the baby was born.

Babies and children with cardiomegaly must receive special treatment. The following are medications that are applied to children who experience cardiomegaly.

Drugs

There are many types of drugs used to treat cardiomegaly in infants and children, such as diuretic drugs that work to reduce the amount of blood flow. This is so that the heart does not have too much weight and can pump blood better.

In addition, drugs like digitalis help the baby's heart to beat slower but stronger so that it keeps the tempo when the blood is pumped. Meanwhile, anti-arrhythmic drugs and blood pressure control are also given to babies with this disease. Both types of drugs prevent heart failure from occurring in the baby.

Operation

Even though they are very young, babies with enlarged hearts sometimes have to undergo open surgery. This operation is aimed at repairing abnormal blood vessels in babies. Alternatively, the baby will also be advised to undergo heart bypass surgery.

In severe cases, the health site WebMD states that the baby or child may need to undergo heart transplant surgery. In addition to heart grafts, babies who have an enlarged heart like this will have an artificial heart that helps the baby's heart pump blood.

Nutritional support

Nutrients are no less important in the treatment of cardiomegaly that the baby is undergoing. Due to this condition, the baby needs more energy to make his heart work less hard. If the nutritional intake is not fulfilled properly, the baby will tire easily because the energy is not enough to support the work of the heart.

Usually, babies with this condition will be helped to eat with a nasogastric tube, which is a tube that is inserted from the nose that is directly connected to the stomach. From this tube, the baby will be given liquid food with high calories.

Can cardiomegaly in children be cured?

Cardiomegaly can be cured and may not. This depends on the cause that caused this condition. If indeed the cause can be cured, then this condition can also be treated.

If your baby or child experiences various symptoms such as difficulty breathing, continues to cry due to chest pain, and continues to be fussy, then don't delay to see your little one to the doctor. Faster and more precise handling will help your little one.