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Big heart disease in a newborn: Causes and treatment
Neonatal enlarged heart prevents the heart muscle from pumping enough blood to meet the body's needs and can cause other health conditions.
A heart that is larger than normal can be an alarming condition and should be treated as soon as possible. Long-term or temporary neonatal enlarged heart will depend on the cause and nature of the condition. Let aFamilyToday Health to learn about this disease.
Causes of enlarged heart disease in babies
Here are a few of the most common causes of an infant with an enlarged heart:
1. Babies are overactive
The fact that your baby is always overactive will make the heart work hard to pump more blood and oxygen, which in turn leads to an enlarged heart. However, the cause of this enlarged heart is more common in adults than in young children.
2. Congenital heart defect
In some cases, the newly born baby has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and this becomes one of the causes of the baby's heart to develop hypertrophy.
3. Hole in the heart
The hole in the heart is a condition that occurs due to an abnormality in the connections between the ventricles or the lower chamber of the heart. In some cases, this condition becomes the cause of the enlarged heart.
4. Problems in the heart valves
A valve in the heart that can't open or close normally, or if the valves leak, can strain the heart and become larger.
5. Heart muscle problems
Like the heart valves, if the heart muscle develops abnormalities, there is a risk of interfering with the organ's functioning and making the baby's heart bigger.
6. Medicines
During pregnancy, pregnant mothers use some inappropriate drugs that can affect the baby, leading to an enlarged heart.
7. Fluid around the heart
The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart and protects this internal organ. Sometimes, the sac in this membrane can accumulate excess fluid and cause an enlarged infant's heart.
Signs of an enlarged heart may include difficulty breathing, an irregular heartbeat, and swelling. In some cases, the skin of a child with an enlarged heart begins to turn greenish. Other symptoms include chest pain, fainting, and discomfort in the upper body, jaw or neck. If you notice that your baby has the above symptoms, you should bring your baby to the doctor for timely examination, diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis of enlarged heart disease in a newborn
An echocardiogram is one way to diagnose an enlarged heart. This form is intended to measure muscle thickness, pump function and cause disease. Another way to diagnose an enlarged heart is a physical exam. However, the doctor only does this if there are obvious symptoms on the body such as swelling and pale skin.
A chest x-ray also helps determine the size of the heart, but this won't be as effective as an echocardiogram.
Complications when a newborn has an enlarged heart
The risk of complications in a child with an enlarged heart depends on the bulge of the heart and its cause. Usually, babies with an enlarged heart experience the following complications:
Heart failure: When you have an enlarged heart, an enlarged left ventricle increases your risk of heart failure. If it does, the baby's heart muscle will weaken and the ventricles relax to the point where the heart cannot pump blood efficiently.
Coagulation: An enlarged heart can facilitate the formation of a blood clot in the heart's lining. If the blood clot gets into the bloodstream, it creates dangerous conditions for the baby, such as a heart attack.
Heart murmur: In a newborn with an enlarged heart, 2 of the heart's 4 valves (the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve) may not close properly because they dilate, causing the blood to flow backwards. The flow of blood makes sound. Although not harmful, the condition should be closely monitored by a doctor.
How likely is an infant with an enlarged heart disease?
The survival rate of a newborn with an enlarged heart depends heavily on early diagnosis, the severity of the condition, and the type of treatment given. Research shows that 95% of babies born with a minor congenitally enlarged heart will live past the age of 18. On the other hand, 69% of babies with severely enlarged hearts will live to 18 years.
Treatment of an enlarged heart in a newborn
Treatment for a newborn with this will depend on the baby's condition, including:
1. Medicines
There are quite a few medications available to treat enlarged heart conditions in a newborn: Diuretics help reduce the heart's workload by regulating blood volume. Digitalis drugs help the heart beat slower but more forcefully, helping to increase the heart's performance. Antiarrhythmic drugs and heart rate regulators will also be used for cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
2. Surgery
Heart surgery for an infant with an enlarged heart may include repairing abnormal blood vessels or even a heart transplant.
3. Nutrition
The bulge requires the heart to increase its activity to supply enough blood to the body. The heart of a newborn with this condition will easily get tired, affecting the baby's lack of breastfeeding and making calorie intake in the person. Such babies often need to be fed through a nasal tube to provide nutrition directly.
Cardiovascular problems in infants such as an enlarged heart must be addressed from the outset to prevent any potentially life-threatening adverse events. Parents should consult a doctor about possible abnormal signs to bring the baby to the hospital promptly.
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