A child’s growth and development are important indicators of their overall health. However, many parents become concerned when their child has difficulty gaining weight or when their development appears slower compared with children of the same age. This condition can be caused by various factors, one of which is congenital heart disease.
According to dr Putri Reno Indrisia, Sp.JP, FIHA, CCK, a cardiologist at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong, congenital heart disease can affect a child’s growth and development because the body requires more energy to function.
“In children with congenital heart disease, the body requires higher calories to support the work of the heart and the breathing process. This condition often causes the child’s weight to be difficult to increase and growth to become delayed compared to children of the same age,” explained dr Putri.
What Is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is an abnormality in the structure or function of the heart that occurs while the baby is still in the womb. This condition can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood optimally throughout the body. Congenital heart disease occurs when the process of fetal heart formation is not completed properly during pregnancy.
In congenital heart disease, this process can be disrupted by structural abnormalities in the heart. Congenital heart disease is divided into two main groups:
1. Non-Cyanotic CHD (Non-Blue Type)
This type is the most commonly found. In this condition, the oxygen level in the blood circulating throughout the body remains relatively good, so the child does not appear bluish.
Examples of this group include atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD), in which CHD occurs because there is a hole in the heart septum that separates the chambers of the heart.
2. Cyanotic CHD (Blue Type)
This type is more serious because there is a mixture of low-oxygen blood and oxygen-rich blood, causing the blood pumped to the body to contain insufficient oxygen.
“In this condition, a typical sign usually appears in the form of bluish lips, tongue, or fingertips. These symptoms may become more visible when the child is crying or tired,” added dr Putri.
Examples of cyanotic congenital heart disease include Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and transposition of the great arteries, in which the major blood vessels are not positioned as they should be.
Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease to Watch Out For
Symptoms of congenital heart disease can appear from birth, but in some cases, they are only detected when the child gets older.
In infants, symptoms that may appear include:
- Pausing while breastfeeding or sweating during feeding
- Difficulty gaining weight, resulting in delayed growth and development
- Frequent respiratory tract infections, such as recurrent coughs and colds, lung infections or pneumonia
- Bluish lips, tongue or fingertips
In older children, symptoms may include:
- Becoming easily tired when playing or exercising
- Slower growth compared with their peers
- Chest pain or heart palpitations
- Rounded fingertips (clubbing)
- Bluish lips and fingertips when tired
Diagnostic Steps by the Doctor
Early detection is key to the successful management of congenital heart disease. To confirm the diagnosis accurately, the doctor may perform several of the following examinations:
- Auscultation, listening to heart sounds to detect abnormal sounds (murmurs).
- Pulse oximetry, measuring oxygen levels in the blood, which is especially important in newborns.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG), recording the electrical activity of the heart to detect abnormalities or enlargement of the heart chambers.
- Chest X-ray, assessing the condition of the heart and lungs, including the possibility of heart enlargement.
- Echocardiography (heart ultrasound), the main examination and gold standard for viewing the structure of the heart in detail.
- CT scan and cardiac MRI, providing more detailed images of the structure and function of the heart.
- Cardiac catheterisation, evaluating pressure in the heart chambers and helping to determine the appropriate therapy.
With comprehensive examinations, an accurate diagnosis can be established so that appropriate management can be provided.
Early detection is key to managing congenital heart disease. If a child shows suspicious symptoms, parents are advised to consult a specialist promptly for further evaluation.
Once the diagnosis has been established, treatment can be provided according to the patient’s condition, ranging from medication therapy and non-surgical interventional procedures, such as balloon or stent placement, to surgical procedures to correct structural abnormalities of the heart.
Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong, through its Heart & Vascular Center, provides comprehensive cardiac services supported by modern technology and an experienced team of doctors.
“We are committed to providing comprehensive and integrated cardiac care, starting from early detection, accurate diagnosis, to appropriate treatment according to the patient’s condition. Supported by modern medical facilities and an experienced team of specialists, we hope that every patient can receive optimal treatment and achieve a better quality of life,” concluded dr Margareth Aryani Santoso, MARS, Director of Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong.