Heart Disease in Children Age Research Paper

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These defects or conditions are categorized according to the problems, which develop. One problem is when too much blood passes through the lungs. Another is when too little passes through the lungs. A third is when too little blood circulates in the body. And a fourth is a combination of several heart defects, presenting as a complex problem. Pediatric cardiologists are the specialists treating babies with congenital heart problems (Children's Hospital of Wisconsin).

Cyanotic Heart Disease

This is a congenital heart defect, which lowers blood oxygen levels, and may involve more than one defect (Weinrauch & Zieve, 2009). Under normal conditions, blood returns from the body and goes through the heart and lungs. Then it flows from the heart and carries enough oxygen to the rest of the body. There is abnormal blood flow when there is a heart defect. The amount of blood flowing also reduces the amount of oxygen that is taken to the rest of the body. A child or infant with cyanotic heart disease has bluish appearance, especially in the lips, fingers, toes or during exercise. It may be caused by chemical exposure, genetic or chromosomal syndromes, infections, diabetic pregnant mothers with poorly controlled blood sugar levels, and some prescription medicines. Symptoms include cyanosis, dyspnea or breathing problems, anxiety, and hyperventilation. Complications include arrhythmias, brain abscess, heart failure, hemopthysis, impaired growth, infectious endocarditis, polycythemia, pulmonary hypertension and stroke (Weinrauch & Zieve).

Diagnosis

Health experts recommend screening every child older than two years who have a family history of high cholesterol or lipids, early cardiovascular disease or diabetes; associated medical conditions; who are overweight or obese and who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or lipids levels themselves (Ferranti & Newburger, 2009). They recommend that such children be subjected to fasting cholesterol and lipid blood testing and fasting blood sugar testing. Children at risk of atherosclerosis should have yearly blood pressure measurement, height and weight and body mass index calculation, and review of their lifestyle conditions, specifically exposure to tobacco smoke, exercise, diet and sleep (Ferranti & Newburger).

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Treatment

Children at risk for cardiovascular disease are managed with lifestyle changes and certain medications to address high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure (Ferranti & Newburger, 2009). Treatment of atherosclerosis in children may prevent or delay the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Treatment is started according to the severity of the risk, probability of side effects and effectiveness. Lifestyle changes are more effective and have few risks. Greater care is taken in medicating children and according to an individualized treatment plan, which will yield the greatest benefits and the fewest risks (Ferranti & Newburger).

Ibutilide

A study of 19 patients, including children, with congenital heart disease showed that treatment with ibutilide is effective and safe (Hoyer & Seshardi, 2007). The respondents were tested from 1996 to 2005 and 15 of them, including four children, had normal heart structure. Of the 74 episodes of atrial flutter and four of atrial fibrillation, Ibutilide converted 55 at 71%. The medicine proved to be the first success in 12 of 19 patients at 63%. Fourteen episodes in six patients needed electrical cardioversion when ibutilide failed. The study concluded that ibutilide could be an effective tool in cardioversion of atrial flutter with careful monitoring (Hoyer & Seshadi). #

BIBLIOGRAPHY

American Heart Association (2010). Cardiac disease in children: statistics. Retrieved on March 15, 2010 from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4498

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (2010). Overview of congenital heart defects.

Children's Hospital and Health System: chw.org. Retrieved on March 15, 2010

from http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/23043/router.asp de Ferranti S.D and Newburger, J.W (2009). Children and heart disease. Up to Date.

Retrieved on March 15, 2010 from http://www.utdol.com/patients/content/topic.do?/topickey=~2s8NbmRwoE1RwoE1R.QP8view=

Hoyer, a.W. And Belaji, S. (2007). Safety and efficacy of ibutilide in children and in patients with congenital heart disease. 30 (8): 1003-1008 Pacing and Clinical

Electrophysiology: Blackwell Publishing. Retrieved on March 15, 2010 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561857

Mayo Clinic Staff (2009. Heart disease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on March 15, 2010

on March 15, 2010….....

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