Pediatric Cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology (Pediatric Cardiology);

It is a branch of science that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases of people in the age group starting from the baby’s heart in the womb up to 18-year-olds. The development of the heart in the womb is completed within two months after fertilization. The heart becomes an organ with 4 valves and 4 cavities within 60 days and continues to work throughout human life.

In some cases, there are anomalies in the baby’s heart, which is still in the womb, depending on its development. About 9 out of every 1000 babies born alive have congenital heart disease. These diseases are quite different from heart diseases encountered in adults, because children are not a shrunken version of adults, but have a constantly growing and developing structure.

Why Are Congenital Heart Diseases Caused?

Although the vast majority of congenital heart diseases are seen within a year after birth, some of them can also be detected by fetal echocardiography performed during the control of the baby in the womb. Heart diseases are usually noticed by a pediatrician during a routine examination up to the age of 1, and the diagnosis becomes clear as a result of the doctor referring the family to a pediatric cardiologist. The reason for this is mostly that the findings are not at a level to disturb the family.

Genetic Diseases: About 9% of heart diseases observed in newborn babies are due to chromosomal disorders. For example, 40% of patients with Down syndrome have a congenital heart anomaly. This damage, which is defined as microdeletion and can be roughly defined as fractures and breaks occurring in chromosomes, is blamed for heart disease.

Metabolic Diseases: Metabolic diseases such as diabetes found in expectant mothers cause 1% to 2% of all heart diseases seen in newborns. The risk of having heart disease in babies of mothers with diabetes is between 2% and 6% Dec.

Teratogenic Factors: Smoking, alcohol, drugs, exposure to X-rays and chemicals and the use of certain medications by the expectant mother during pregnancy may cause congenital heart diseases.

Acquired Heart Diseases are heart disorders that develop later in a heart that is innately normal. Rheumatic heart disease, Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, infective endocarditis, cardiomyopathies, mitral valve prolapse and other valve disorders are among these diseases.

 Acquired Heart Diseases

These are heart disorders that develop later in a heart that is innately normal. Rheumatic heart disease, Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, infective endocarditis, cardiomyopathies, mitral valve prolapse and other valve disorders are among these diseases.

A child suffering from a throat infection (Only throat infections caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci lead to rheumatism. Rheumatism does not develop after other viral and bacterial throat infections.) if he does not take antibiotics at the appropriate dose and time, there is a risk of developing rheumatism. The risk is very low in patients undergoing treatment. It is most often seen in children between the ages of 5 and 15. Dec. Symptoms appear approximately 2-3 weeks after the throat infection. It shows its main effects on the heart, joints, skin and brain. Usually, the first noticeable symptom is swelling, pain, temperature increase and slight redness in the joints (knee, foot and wrist). The most important effect is shown in the heart. It leads to damage and dysfunction of the heart valves. In some children, involuntary, abnormal movements (Chorea), behavioral disorders and changes in habits may be observed in the face, hands, arms and legs due to brain involvement. Skin findings are rare. Patients should be monitored by starting treatment as soon as they receive a diagnosis.

Children’s Heart Diseases

Children’s heart diseases are observed quite a lot in young people and children. While congenital heart diseases are in the foreground in newborn babies, infections and genetically transmitted diseases in older children lead to heart diseases. Good observation of children by their parents and routine check-ups at December intervals are vital for the early diagnosis of heart diseases.

Symptoms of Children’s Heart Diseases;

Bruising
Frequent breathing
Troubled breathing
Common respiratory tract infection
Hearing a murmur in the heart
Palpitation
Don’t get tired quickly
Dizziness
Fainting
Chest pain
Hypertension
Inability to gain weight
Developmental disorder

 Heart diseases during pregnancy

Diagnosis, follow-up and treatment are very important. Your pregnancy is 19. about the heart that began to develop on day 16. starting from the week, information can be obtained through scans performed with an ultrasound instrument called “fetal echocardiography”. Especially 22. from the week on, it is possible to obtain information about heart diseases, usually directly, sometimes indirectly (for example, by looking at the thickness of the back of the neck).

Heart disease in a baby in the womb can be detected with the help of fetal echo (ultrasonography) instrument. Images 16. If it becomes clear from the week, it is the best 22.a definitive diagnosis can be made within weeks. All kinds of heart diseases can be detected by fetal echo examination. A hole between the ventricles(VSD), heart valve stenosis, a large hole between the atria(ASD) changes in the location of the main artery from the heart (TGA),many disorders including heart(TOF), such as heart disease can be diagnosed. In various studies and researches, fetal echo examination has not been found to have a harmful effect on mother and baby.