In general, children below the age of 10 have heart ailments and problems, and although not very common, this keeps increasing at an alarming rate in the country today. Cardiac disorders may be arising from several factors, including but, limited to the below mentioned:
- Genetics
- Viral infection during pregnancy (first trimester)
- Unhealthy lifestyle by the parents
- Consumption of alcohol and smoking by the mother during pregnancy etc.
Cardiac ailments among children can take a variety of forms, starting from minor ailments which may be cured by short-term medication, to the ones that may need surgical intervention.
Our Pediatric Cardiologists at Frontier Lifeline are specifically trained to diagnose, treat and prevent heart ailments in children. They ensure to work closely with primary care pediatricians to provide comprehensive care.
Heart problems in children are very rare and different from the ones that affect adults. In most cases, children are diagnosed with congenital heart defects which are considered to be diagnosed commonly due to birth defects. The defects meddle with the heart’s structure which includes the arteries, valves, and veins of the heart.
Paediatric cardiologists – the standard care for children
Children’s heart problems usually differ from adults. Frontier Lifeline experts in paediatric cardiology are equipped with experts to exclusively diagnose and treat the desired heart problems in children.
Our few cardiologists take a special interest in specific areas to diagnose and treat heart problems in children. A common focus in areas includes:
- Heart failure and heart transplant
- Advanced imaging methods
- The heart’s electrical conduction system
- Cardiac catheterization procedures
- Health care of infants in cardiac ICU
Commonly diagnosed paediatric heart conditions
Some of the commonly diagnosed paediatric heart conditions along with their treatment includes;
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is the irregular heart rhythm. The treatment options for arrhythmia are medications, removal of the tissue causing the condition or catheter ablation and pacemaker implantation.
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the Aorta is caused by the narrowing of the aorta. This condition is treated by removing the narrowed parts or by inserting the stent into the narrowed vessel.
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Aortic Valve Stenosis causes a deformed and narrow heart valve to restrict the blood flow. The paediatric cardiologist will choose from surgical and non-surgical means for valve replacement. Balloon valvuloplasty is one among the treatment methods which is used to open the valve.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a condition which is caused when the thickened heart doesn’t pump the blood well. Treatment options for the condition include both medication and surgery.
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an infection of the heart which can be treated possibly with medication. Surgery can be an option but it is not the most preferred.
Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
The major vessel, the pulmonary artery, that carries the deoxygenated blood flow from the heart to the lungs narrows down obstructing the entire blood flow. This condition has to be treated promptly. Surgical treatment options are opted for in case of failure of non-surgical treatment methods.
Congenital heart defects can vary starting from simple to life-threatening conditions. The warning signs and symptoms that suggest congenital heart defects are;
- Low birth weight
- Delayed growth
- Chest pain
- Bluish discoloration of lips, fingers, and skin
- Difficulty in feeding
Keeping your child’s health and well-being, we at Frontier Lifeline offer these services to care for a healthy heart.
- Cardioversion
- Catheter Ablation of Arrhythmias
- Diagnostic Electrophysiology studies
- Lead Extraction
- Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillators and follow-ups
- Resynchronization therapy for heart failure
We at Frontier Lifeline are specialised in providing multidisciplinary care with physicians, therapists, and socialist staff nurses to provide the best treatment by understanding the importance of instant treatment of each cardiac-related ailment of your child.
