A heart murmur is an extra or abnormal sound that happens when the heart pumps blood. Your child's healthcare provider can hear the murmur when listening to your child's heart with a stethoscope. Heart murmurs are common in children, and are most often a normal part of their growth. At some point, just about every child will have a heart murmur. A heart murmur usually doesn't mean that your child has a serious health issue. But in rare cases, a heart murmur can be a sign of a serious condition. That's why it's important for your child to see a cardiologist. A cardiologist can find out if your child's murmur is caused by a problem in his or her heart, or if it's nothing to worry about.
When Your Child Has a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
A PDA is a heart defect affecting 2 arteries. A PDA may close on its own, without treatment. If it does not, your child may be treated with medicine, a heart procedure, or surgery.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) in Children
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a group of defects of the heart and large blood vessels. A child is born with this condition (congenital heart defect). It occurs when part of the heart doesn't develop as it should during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
A heart murmur is a swishing sound that blood makes as it moves through the heart. A heart murmur may mean that there's an abnormality of the heart or valve structure. In most cases, it is completely harmless and a normal finding. Read on to learn more.