Understanding Heart Disease in Children: Causes, Types & Facts

The heart is a muscle, located in the upper left side of the chest, that pumps blood. About 40,000 children are born with heart disease in the United States each year. Children also can develop heart disease at anytime during their childhood.

Types

• Congenital and acquired heart disease occurs in children. Congenital heart disease is seen at birth and acquired heart disease occurs during childhood.

Causes

• Children with congenital heart disease develop it due to genetic reasons. Acquired heart disease develops due to illnesses.

Effects

• Children who suffer from heart disease will have problems breathing and have difficulty gaining weight.

Identification

• To identify whether a child has heart disease, a doctor will perform a physical examination and obtain a medical history. The doctor will order an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and chest x-ray.

Treatments

• Treatments for children with heart disease include medications such as beta blockers, dietary changes and surgery.