Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of Heart Disease
- Common heart disease in children
- 1. Congenital heart disease
- 2. Atherosclerosis
- 3. Kawasaki disease
Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of Heart Disease
Heart disease in adults alone is dangerous, especially in children. What's more, heart disease in children is usually more severe than heart disease in adults.
Heart problems that are common in children include congenital heart disease, heart disease due to viral infection, even heart disease due to abnormalities or hereditary syndromes. The good news is, with the advancement of the medical world today, many children can recover completely and lead healthy and normal lives.
Common heart disease in children
1. Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease or congenital heart disease is a fetal birth defect that occurs due to abnormal embryo development. This condition occurs in 8 out of every 1000 newborns. These babies usually have problems with the structure, such as:
- there is a heart leak due to a hole in the heart septum
- mitral valve stenosis
Other forms of congenital heart disease are:
- heart failure which causes a part of the heart that is not fully developed
- tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four other syndromes namely pulmonary embolism, ventricular septal abnormalities, aortic equestrian, and right ventricular hypertrophy.
2. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the formation of plaque from fat and cholesterol in the arteries. When plaque builds up, blood vessels become stiff and narrow, making you more at risk of developing blood clots and eventually a heart attack. This is a long-term condition and is often undetected.
Children and adolescents are rarely affected by this disease. However, they will be at risk if they are overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health conditions. If your child is overweight and obese, or if your family has a history of heart disease and diabetes, the doctor will usually advise your child to check his cholesterol and blood pressure regularly.
3. Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki is a rare disease characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body, such as in the arms, hands, mouth, lips and throat. Other symptoms include fever and swollen lymph glands. The cause of this disease is still unclear.
According to the American Heart Association, Kawasaki is a common heart disease in children. As many as 1 in 5 children who suffer from heart disease, are due to Kawasaki disease. Most are under 5 years old.
