DISEASE heart disease may be identical to the disease of adults, but that does not mean heart disease can not attack children. In fact, there is heart disease that can attack babies.
Usually, the disease is called Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). However, only 8 out of 1,000 newborns are diagnosed with CHD.
Indeed, only about 30 percent of CHD babies show symptoms in the first weeks of life. This means that many babies with CHD are undiagnosed because they do not show symptoms.
The next problem, explained by the Heartology Cardiovascular Center Specialist, Dr. Radityo Prakoso, SpJP, is that 80 percent of the causes of CHD are unknown, while the other 20 percent are related to Mendellian and velocraniofacial syndromes.
“That is why it is very important for parents to do early detection of CHD in their children. In fact, even babies in the womb can be detected with CHD with early screening,” said Dr Radityo in a webinar.
CHD itself is a heart disorder that develops before birth. Symptoms of this disease are usually characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm, blue skin, shortness of breath, unable to eat, and swelling of body tissues or organs.
Furthermore, Dr Radito explained that there are three options for early detection that are ideal to see if there is a risk of CHD in the baby in the womb, at birth, and before the baby is discharged from the hospital.
First, antenatal fetal echocardiography, which screening is done while the baby is still in the womb. Then, check pulse oximetry at birth to check the oxygen levels in the baby’s body.
“The third screening is a routine clinical screening on the first day of life and before the baby is discharged from the hospital,” explained Dr. Radityo.
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