Heart disease in newborns, infants, and children is mostly congenital, but can also be acquired. The clinical presentation and course of congenital malformations can vary widely depending on the type of disease. Most of the abnormalities are mild and heal spontaneously or with medication, but they can also be very severe, with frightening symptoms that require urgent heart surgery or cardiac catheterization in the first days of life.
Pediatric cardiology
When and with what kind of complaints should you consult a pediatric cardiologist?
- In childhood, in addition to congenital heart disease, acquired heart diseases may also develop, e.g., inflammatory diseases (pericardium, endocardium, myocardium) and arrhythmias.
- Obesity and also high blood pressure due to being overweight can be detected in an increasing number of children, and may require medication.
- Certain systemic diseases may also affect the cardiovascular system e.g., in autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus), and in Kawasaki disease, where, in addition to inflammation of the heart muscle and pericardium, there may be permanent changes in the coronary arteries that affect the outcome of the underlying disease.
What happens during the cardiological examination?
Early detection of symptoms and early diagnosis are important. Timely medication or other (catheter or surgical) treatment improves life prospects, but can also be life-saving.
Cardiac ultrasound examinations are performed by experienced specialists at Dr. Rose Private Hospital, and state-of-the-art laboratory, ECG, and imaging diagnostic methods are also available to make an accurate diagnosis and select appropriate treatments.
How should you arrive for the examination?
Please bring your child's previous medical findings with you.