CHD (congenital heart disease) in children is an anatomical abnormality of the structure of the heart itself, its vessels or valve apparatus, which has arisen at the stage of intrauterine development. Its frequency is approximately 0.8% in general and 30% of all malformations. Heart defects rank first in the mortality rate of newborns and children under one year. When a child reaches 12 months, the probability of a lethal outcome is reduced to 5%.
CHD in newborns - causes
Sometimes the cause of UPN may be a genetic predisposition, but most often they arise due to external influences on the mother and child during pregnancy, namely:
- viral infections, for example, rubella;
- alcoholism, mother's addiction;
- reception of strong medicines;
- injuries;
- effects of radiation.
In addition, specialists identified a number of factors that may increase the risk of a child with a syndrome of CHD:
- if the mother of the child is over 35 years of age;
- the presence of endocrine diseases in one of the spouses;
- threat of abortion ;
- the birth of dead children, miscarriage of the mother;
- abortions;
- presence of children or close relatives with UPU.
CHD in children - symptoms
Signs of CHD in a child can be seen even at the 16-18 week of pregnancy during ultrasound, but most often this diagnosis is given to children after birth. Sometimes heart defects are difficult to detect immediately, so parents should be wary of the following symptoms:
- pallor and cyanosis of the skin in the nasolabial triangle , ears, limbs;
- pallor and coldness of pens and legs;
- the so-called "heart hump", noticeable on palpation;
- poor weight gain;
- sluggishness of the baby, the appearance of shortness of breath;
- noises in the heart;
- appearance of signs of heart failure.
When anxiety symptoms are detected, children are firstly directed to the heart echography, an electrocardiogram and other detailed studies.
UPU classification
To date, more than 100 different types of congenital heart defects are isolated, however, their classification is difficult due to the fact that very often they are combined and, accordingly, the clinical signs of the disease are "mixed".
For pediatricians, the most convenient and informative classification, which is based on the characteristics of a small circle of circulation and the presence of cyanosis:
- vices with an overload of blood circulation in a small circle;
- violation of the structure of the interatrial septum;
- violation of the structure of the interventricular septum;
- defects caused by the association of the small circle of blood circulation;
- opening of the ductus arteriosus;
- tetrad of Fallot;
- stenosis of the pulmonary artery;
- coarctation of the aorta;
- transposition of the main vessels;
- stenosis of the aortic aorta;
- defects with normal pulmonary circulation.
Treatment of CHD in children
The success of treatment of CHD in children depends on the timeliness of its detection. So, if the defect is found even during prenatal diagnosis, the future mother is under the intensive supervision of specialists, takes medications to support the baby's heart. In addition, in this case, recommend caesarean section in order to avoid exercise.
To date, there are two possible options for treating this disease, the choice depends on the type and severity of the disease:
- intravascular interventions with the help of occluders, catheters, balloons and other devices that can correct the defect and restore normal blood circulation;
- an open surgery to eliminate the UPU - until recently, the only method of treatment.