Is a heart murmur in a baby serious?
Heart murmurs can be present at birth (congenital) or develop later in life. Heart murmurs can be harmless (innocent) or abnormal. An innocent heart murmur is not a sign of heart disease and doesn’t need treatment. Abnormal heart murmurs require follow-up testing to determine the cause.
What happens if my baby has a heart murmur?
But, if a child has a heart murmur and also develops symptoms such as shortness of breath, trouble eating or gaining weight, sweating while eating, or cyanosis (a blue tint to lips and skin), it could be a more serious condition that needs medical attention right away.
Do heart murmurs in babies go away?
Some of these heart murmurs may go away on their own with time. If the murmur is from a congenital heart defect, treatment may include medicine, procedures, or surgery. If the murmur is from another condition, the heart murmur will usually lessen or go away once the condition is treated.
Can a baby live with a heart murmur?
Your child won’t need treatment or special restrictions on his/her diet or activities. He or she can be as active as any other normal, healthy child. Rarely, a murmur will sound abnormal enough to indicate a possible problem with the heart.
How do they fix a heart murmur?
Treatment depends on the heart condition causing the murmur and may include medications or surgery….Valve replacement
- Open-heart surgery. This is the main treatment for severe valve stenosis.
- Ross procedure.
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Can you live a normal life with a heart murmur?
Living with a heart murmur If you or your child has an innocent heart murmur, you can live a completely normal life. It will not cause you any problems and is not a sign of an issue with your heart. If you have a murmur along with any of the following symptoms, see your doctor: You are very tired.
How is a heart murmur treated?
Do heart murmurs run in the family?
You are at higher risk of developing a heart murmur if you have a family history of a heart defect or certain medical conditions. These could include high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, or endocarditis (infection in the lining of the heart).
How common is a heart murmur in babies?
More than 66 percent of all children, and approximately 75 percent of all newborns, have normal heart murmurs. Abnormal blood flow suggests a structural heart problem or defect, which requires further evaluation.
Can you live a long life with a heart murmur?
Is heart murmur a disability?
The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for functional heart murmur without evidence of cardiac disease have not been met from August 18, 1998. 38 U.S.C.A. § 1155 (West 1991); 38 C.F.R. § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7000 (1997); 38 C.F.R.
Why are some babies born with heart murmur?
Heart murmurs are a common finding in infants and children and mostly originate from normal flow patterns with no structural or anatomic abnormalities of the heart or vessels and are referred to as innocent, physiological or normal murmurs; conversely, murmur may be created by abnormal flow patterns in the heart and …
Does My Baby have a heart murmur?
Rest assured, heart murmurs are quite common in babies. In fact, most infant-related heart murmurs resolve themselves fairly quickly, without serious and long-term complications. It is important to understand the type of heart murmur your baby has been diagnosed with because there are several types of heart murmurs.
What are the symptoms of an infant heart murmur?
– If it is loud or soft – If it is high- or low-pitched – Where on the chest or back it can be heard – If there are differences in the sound based on your child’s position – When the murmur occurs relative to the first and second heart sounds
Your child may also experience innocent heart murmurs where the levels of red blood cells are low. In most cases, these types of heart murmurs go away with time, but sometimes, they last for entire life. They do not cause further health problems though. These types of heart murmurs are usually the outcome of structural problems of the heart.
How bad is a heart murmur on a newborn?
Overview. Heart murmurs are sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by turbulent blood in or near your heart.