Congenital heart disease is the heart condition present since birth.
After birth, the doctor may suspect a diagnosis of a congenital heart defect if a child has growth delays or changes in the color of the lips, tongue or fingernails.
The doctor may hear a heart sound (murmur) while listening to the child's heart with a stethoscope. Most heart murmurs are innocent, meaning that there is no heart defect and the murmur isn't dangerous to your child's health. However, some murmurs may be caused by blood flow changes to and from the heart.
Tests to diagnose a congenital heart defect include:
Pulse oximetry.
A sensor placed on the fingertip records the amount of oxygen in the blood. Too little oxygen may be a sign of a heart or lung problem.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
This noninvasive test records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG can help diagnose irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create images of the heart in motion. It shows how blood moves through the heart and heart valves. If an echocardiogram is done on a baby before birth, it's called a fetal echocardiogram.
Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray shows the condition of the heart and lungs. It can show if the heart is enlarged, or if the lungs contain extra blood or other fluid. These could be signs of heart failure.
Cardiac catheterization
In this test, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel, usually in the groin area, and guided to the heart. Catheterization can provide detailed information on blood flow and how the heart works. Certain heart treatments can be done during cardiac catheterization.
Heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
A heart MRI may be done to diagnose and evaluate congenital heart defects in adolescents and adults. A heart MRI creates 3D pictures of the heart, which allows for accurate measurement of the heart chambers.
There are a various congenital heart diseases:
They are classified into two categories if the baby looks blue or looks normal
Heart conditions where the baby lips, nails and skin look blue ( Cyanotic Heart Diseases ) are:
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Total anomalous pulmonary artery
- Pulmonary atresia
- Tricuspid atresia
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Interrupted aortic arch
- Transposition of great arteries
- Truncus arteriosus
Heart conditions where the baby lips, nails and skin look pink or normal ( Acynotic Heart Diseases ) are:
- Atrial septal defect
- Ventricular septal defect
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Aortic stenosis
Discuss with your doctor to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of each disease.
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