Dear parents,
Pediatric cardiology; with some complaints and findings in childhood (0-18 years) It serves as a sub-branch of Child Health and Diseases, covering the diagnosis and treatment methods of congenital or acquired heart diseases that manifest themselves.
Serious congenital heart disease (such as hole, valve stenosis-insufficiency, structural abnormalities). Children with this disorder usually experience complaints of frequent breathing, getting tired easily when breastfeeding, sweating, not gaining weight, or bruising (especially on the lips, tongue, gums and nail bases) in the first 6 months after birth. p>
In some congenital heart diseases, complaints become noticeable with age (such as frequent breathing, palpitations, getting tired easily, squatting when tired, bruising, not gaining weight, frequent lung infections, edema) or are only suspected during examination without any obvious complaints. .
Acquired heart diseases (such as rheumatic fever, myocarditis, Kawasaki disease) also show complaints and examination findings to the extent that they affect the heart.
Related or unrelated to exercise. Complaints such as dizziness, fainting and chest pain may result from irregular heartbeats (rhythm disorders).
During examination by a pediatrician, the most common reason for suspicion of heart disease is hearing a murmur. More than half of childhood murmurs are innocent murmurs. However, a diagnosis of congenital or acquired heart disease can be made as a result of the investigation only due to the murmur, without any other significant finding.
Although an experienced pediatrician may have an idea that the murmur he hears may be related to heart disease or an innocent murmur, we, pediatric cardiologists, We can say that a definitive diagnosis can only be made by echocardiography.
Early diagnosis and treatment results of a congenital or acquired heart disease are often satisfactory. However, in delayed cases, even a treatable disease may have no chance of treatment and the child may be lost. If the pediatrician recommends it to the family due to some complaints or examination findings such as a murmur, that child should be consulted a pediatric cardiologist without wasting too much time. It would be appropriate to be evaluated by a doctor.
Congenital heart diseases can also be detected while the baby is in the womb. For this reason, in risky pregnancies (such as pregnant women with diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy at an advanced age, history of miscarriage, stillbirth, in vitro fertilization), 'fetal echocardiographic evaluation' is performed with the recommendation of the obstetrician following the follow-up. ' can be done.
For routine cardiological evaluation; history taking, examination, electrocardiography (shows the rhythm and contraction strength of the heart) and echocardiography are sufficient. In cases of suspected exercise-related or unrelated arrhythmia, rhythm Holter (24-hour ECG) and exercise testing may be required. In cases where echocardiographic evaluation is not sufficient and for both diagnosis and treatment purposes (such as closing a hole or eliminating valve stenosis), heart catheterization and angiography can be applied. They start doing sports as a lesson. Some consider becoming professional athletes in the future.
Sports; It is a necessary and healthy activity for a heart with normal rhythm and anatomical structure, especially in today's world where passive life prevails.
However, a congenital or acquired heart disease or arrhythmia that is not detected early may cause sudden unexpected problems or destroy your child's dreams of becoming a professional athlete in the future.
Do you have enough information about whether your child's heart is healthy?
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Routine cardiological examinations (electrocardiography, echocardiography) at least once from the beginning of your child's school age
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) has been done?
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Does your child have developmental delay or inability to gain weight?
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Feeling of palpitations, getting tired easily, especially during sports Do they have complaints such as pain, chest pain, feeling faint?
Even if the answers to these questions are not positive or they have no complaints during sports, 3-4 times a week If your child does sports daily and very intensively, we recommend that you learn about your child's heart health.
Sports for healthy generations, sports I wish you a healthy heart
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