The World Health Organization declared the disease related to the Covid-19 virus as a pandemic on March 11, 2019, and since then, the fatal consequences of the disease have been encountered all over the world, especially in adults. The disease can occur in a wide spectrum in all age groups, from a clinical condition that does not cause any symptoms to a severe clinical condition that poses a life-threatening risk and causes the patient to die. Less severe forms of the disease have also been described in children and young adults compared to older individuals. The most important difference that draws attention in different age groups in childhood is that active or recent Covid-19 disease causes a life-threatening condition called serious inflammatory syndrome that affects the whole body.
Potential risk factors that change the course of the disease and develop heart disease in children have been identified; Children with immune system disorders, obesity, the child being younger than 1 year old, having a chronic disease requiring medical treatment before, the presence of genetic diseases, and developmental delays are at high risk, and those with these risk factors should be monitored more closely for the development of heart disease.
Covid-19 disease in children can especially affect the heart and vessels; If the heart is affected; Inflammation of the heart muscle, heart failure, and inflammation of the coronary arteries, which are the feeding vessels of the heart, are the most feared complications. In addition, a very severe clinical picture accompanied by multiple organ involvement related to Covid-19 has also been described in pediatric age groups, and this clinical picture may lead to shock and death of the patient. In the early stages of this condition, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea can often be detected. During this situation, many organs, including the heart, neurological system, kidneys and body blood cells, are involved in the disease. Therefore, when these symptoms are observed, they should be evaluated for the presence of heart disease.
If Covid-19 disease affects the heart in the child age group, the first symptoms may be chest pain, palpitations, high heart rate, and high respiratory rate. ir. When these findings are observed, laboratory examinations in which some blood tests are taken as well as tests such as ECG and ECHO are required.
During the typical course of the disease, complaints of cough, high fever above 38 degrees Celsius, muscle aches, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and headaches can occur, but the disease can also develop into severe forms that affect the heart. It is recommended to perform heart-related examinations in case of more than one of these symptoms, without waiting for the disease to progress. It is necessary to be examined for Covid-related heart disease when there is no other reason.
Clinical follow-up is necessary for cardiovascular disease during the course of the disease. Inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the heart valves, inflammation of the heart membrane, heart pump, which are frequently detected during the course of Covid-19 disease in children. Deterioration of function, development of rhythm disorders and sudden deterioration of the general condition require cardiological examinations, as well as close follow-up for cardiovascular disease during the course of the disease.
Especially children with risk factors; Children with congenital and acquired heart disease, children with immune disorders, children with pre-existing chronic lung disease, healthy children under 1 year of age, children with obesity, children being monitored for diabetes can be diagnosed with Covid-19 even if the signs and symptoms are faint. Cardiological evaluation tests must be performed along with diagnostic tests for the disease. If the disease affects the heart and vessels, it is necessary to be hospitalized in a hospital environment, start appropriate medications intravenously, and take treatment measures to prevent deterioration of heart functions.
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