Types of heart disorders in children
Cardiomyopathies
Some children have disorders called cardiomyopathies that specifically involve the myocardium, or heart muscle. These cardiomyopathies may be primary or secondary disorders of myocardial function. All of their causes are not known. For primary cardiomyopathies, researchers continue to identify an increasing number of specific gene defects.
The various causes of secondary cardiomyopathies include toxic medications, chronic overload of left ventricular volume from chronic severe valvular regurgitation (valve defect that allows pumped out blood to leak back into the heart), and myocarditis, an inflammatory process primarily caused in children by infectious agents. Some children with cardiomyopathy are without symptoms for years, whereas others develop severe symptoms, including sudden death or life-threatening heart failure.
Congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure may arise in children who have congenital or acquired heart disease. Providing effective pharmacological therapy for these children is a special challenge. In addition, the developmental issues associated with long-term administration of drugs in children are not completely known.
Read more about pediatric cardiology with explanations of different diagnoses from Jeanine Swenson, M.D., of Advanced Healthcare.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias, or disorders of electrical conduction, also may be congenital or acquired. Disorders may be caused by gene defects or may be associated with disease processes such as the cardiomyopathies. Other conduction disorders may be associated with specific congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVMs) or may be caused by various therapies, including surgery.
Read more about arrhythmias.
Coronary artery aneurysms
Coronary artery aneurysms are a specific complication of Kawasaki disease, which has replaced rheumatic fever as the most common cause of acquired heart disease among U.S. children. First identified in 1967, Kawasaki disease generally occurs in young children. Its incidence peaks among those ages 1 to 2 years, and 85% of the cases occur in children under age 5. The cause is unknown.
Administration of intravenous gamma globulin dramatically reduces the incidence of coronary artery aneurysms in this disease, but approximately 5% of the children will develop at least transient dilation of a coronary artery and 1% will develop giant aneurysms. Researchers have not defined the long-term outcomes for children with even apparently transient abnormalities of the coronary arteries, but children with large aneurysms are at risk for myocardial infarction.
Read more about Kawasaki disease.
Atherosclerotic vascular disease
The link between childhood and heart disease in adults is strong. The atherosclerotic vascular disease process begins well before adulthood and perhaps even during fetal life. Atherosclerotic vascular disease is the leading cause of death among all adults in the United States. Obesity, for example, is a major risk factor for both young and old. Obesity during childhood predicts adult obesity, and obese children and adolescents have a larger number of other cardiovascular risk factors than those who are not obese.
Read what Andrew Feiring, M.D., of Advanced Healthcare, says about vascular disease.
Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
