How do heart defects affect a child?
Some babies and children with heart defects experience no symptoms. The heart defect may be diagnosed if the health care provider hears an abnormal sound, referred to as a murmur. Children with normal hearts also can have heart murmurs. These are called innocent or functional murmurs. A provider may suggest tests to rule out a heart defect. Certain heart defects prevent the heart from pumping adequate blood to the lungs or other parts of the body. This can cause congestive heart failure (inability of the heart to pump out all the blood that returns to it, leading to fluid build-up in the heart, lungs and other parts of the body). An affected child may experience a rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties, especially during exercise. Infants may experience these difficulties during feeding, sometimes resulting in inadequate weight gain. Affected infants and children also may have swelling of the legs or abdomen or around the eyes. Some heart defects result in a pale grayish or bluish
