Pediatric cardiology cares for heart conditions from before birth to the late teens. Most of the work concerns congenital heart defects; the remainder covers rhythm problems, cardiomyopathies, Kawasaki disease, and assessment of murmurs, chest pain and fainting in otherwise healthy children. Fetal cardiology, part of the same service, examines the unborn baby's heart by ultrasound.
The majority of children referred have an innocent murmur and a normal heart, and can be reassured and discharged. Those with significant defects need a team of paediatric cardiologists, congenital heart surgeons, paediatric anaesthetists and intensive care staff, with continuity over many years.
Bedingungen, die dieser Service betreut
- Innocent (functional) heart murmurs
- Ventricular and atrial septal defects
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries and other cyanotic defects
- Coarctation of the aorta and valve stenosis
- Supraventricular tachycardia, long QT syndrome and other arrhythmias in children
- Cardiomyopathy and myocarditis
- Kawasaki disease and its coronary complications
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Fetal heart abnormalities and fetal arrhythmias
Tests, die Ihnen möglicherweise angeboten werden
- Clinical examination with pulse oximetry and four-limb blood pressure: Often enough to separate an innocent murmur from a significant one.
- ECG: Rate, rhythm and interval measurements, interpreted against age-specific norms.
- Echocardiography: Painless and radiation-free; defines most defects. Small children may need distraction or light sedation to lie still.
- Fetal echocardiography: Usually at 18 to 22 weeks when there is a family history, maternal diabetes, a concern on the anomaly scan or an abnormal fetal heart rhythm.
- Holter monitoring and exercise testing: For palpitations, fainting and post-operative follow-up in older children.
- Cardiac MRI or CT: Complex anatomy and surgical planning; may need general anaesthesia in the very young.
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterisation: Pressure and oxygen measurements when non-invasive imaging is insufficient.
Behandlungen verfügbar
- Reassurance and discharge: For innocent murmurs and benign chest pain, with a clear explanation for parents.
- Observation: Many small septal defects close spontaneously in the first years.
- Medicines: Heart failure treatment in infants, anti-arrhythmic drugs, and aspirin and immunoglobulin for Kawasaki disease.
- Catheter interventions: Device closure of ASD and PDA, balloon dilation of pulmonary and aortic valves, stenting of coarctation in older children.
- Congenital heart surgery: From simple closures to complex neonatal repairs and staged palliation, performed by specialised surgeons.
- Catheter ablation and devices: For SVT in school-age children, and pacemakers or ICDs when needed.
- Prenatal counselling and delivery planning: Explaining a fetal diagnosis, options and where the baby should be delivered.
- Transition to adult congenital care: A planned handover in the late teens.
Wann Sie eine Fachmeinung einholen sollten
- A doctor has heard a murmur and recommends an echo
- Your baby has bluish lips, breathes fast, sweats with feeds or is not gaining weight
- Your child faints during exercise or has chest pain on exertion
- There is a family history of inherited cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia syndrome or sudden death under 40
- Your child's heart races suddenly and stops just as suddenly
- A pregnancy scan raised a question about the baby's heart
Reisen nach Türkiye für diese Pflege
Be cautious about travelling with a child for heart care. Outpatient assessment, a second opinion on echo images, and planned low-risk procedures in stable children, such as ASD or PDA device closure, are reasonable over 6 to 8 days. Sick infants, complex or staged surgery and anything needing intensive care are safest within one specialist centre near home. Pregnant women with a fetal heart diagnosis should be counselled and should deliver where the newborn will be treated. Remote review of your child's records should come first, and your own paediatric cardiologist should be part of the decision.
Senden Sie Ihre Berichte, Scans und eine kurze Geschichte und eine Clinic-Y Koordinator Antworten innerhalb von 24 Stunden mit geeigneten Teams und schriftlich, All-inclusive Vorschläge nebeneinander. Die Überprüfung Ihres Falls ist kostenlos.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is an innocent murmur?
The sound of normal blood flow in a healthy heart, heard in a large share of children at some point, often during a fever. It needs no treatment and no restriction.
Will my child need sedation for an echo?
Usually not. Babies can be fed during the scan and older children watch a screen. A restless toddler occasionally needs mild sedation for a complete study.
Can my child with a heart defect be vaccinated and play sport?
Vaccination is strongly recommended, including RSV protection for certain infants. Most children can be physically active; specific limits come from the cardiologist.
If a defect is seen before birth, what happens?
You are given a detailed explanation of the defect and its outlook, further testing may be offered, and delivery is planned in a hospital with newborn cardiac care.