- Increasing dyspnea (on exertion, on lying flat or at rest, exercise intolerance)
- Increasing leg swelling, ascites, edema
- Increased body weight -ask patients if they have been tracking their weight at home and if it has increased since their symptoms have become worse.
What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure in babies?
With significant congestive heart failure, the heart is pumping so hard that one can feel or even see the heart impulse on the surface of the chest quite easily. Difficulty eating or may not eat as fast or as well as other babies. They can become very sweaty with feedings because of the extra work needed to eat.
What causes congestive heart failure in children?
In older children where the structure of the heart is normal, it is usually due to a weakening of the heart muscle, or cardiomyopathy, infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or Kawasaki disease, which all can lead to congestive heart failure.
What is the prognosis for babies with congestive heart failure?
If congestive heart failure is due to a structural problem of the heart that can be fixed, the outcome is excellent. Babies with large ventricular septal defects whose holes get smaller or are closed surgically are able to lead a normal life. Babies with more complex congenital heart disease may have more variable results.
Can a hole in the heart cause congestive heart failure in babies?
These babies are also at risk for having too much blood flow to the lungs. Holes between the two upper chambers of the heart ( atrial septal defects) rarely cause problems with congestive heart failure no matter how large.
What are the signs and symptoms seen in a child with congestive heart failure?
Symptoms of heart failure in childrenVisible swelling of the legs, ankles, eyelids, face, and (occasionally) abdomen.Abnormally fast breathing.Shortness of breath or labored breathing.Fatigue.Nausea.Falling asleep when feeding or becoming too tired to eat.Lack of appetite.More items...
What is a complication of congestive heart failure in the cardiac child?
They can include: Swelling (edema) of the feet, ankles, lower legs, belly (abdomen), liver, and neck veins. Trouble breathing, especially with activity including rapid breathing, wheezing, or excessive coughing. Poor feeding and weight gain (in infants)
What are the major clinical manifestations and complications of heart failure?
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Blood often backs up and causes fluid to build up in the lungs (congest) and in the legs. The fluid buildup can cause shortness of breath and swelling of the legs and feet. Poor blood flow may cause the skin to appear blue (cyanotic).
What are the clinical manifestations of congenital heart disease in infants and children?
Congenital heart disease can have a number of symptoms, particularly in babies and children, including:rapid heartbeat.rapid breathing.swelling of the legs, tummy or around the eyes.extreme tiredness and fatigue.a blue tinge to the skin or lips (cyanosis)tiredness and rapid breathing when a baby is feeding.
What are symptoms of heart disease in children?
Older children/teensUnable to keep up physically with other children.Getting out of breath with activity sooner than other children.Getting sweaty with exercise sooner than other children.Turning blue around the gums/tongue.Chest pain with exercise.Passing out.Palpitations — heart skipping a beat or beating abnormally.More items...
What are the most prominent symptoms of cardiac heart failure in babies?
In infants, heart failure often presents with breathing trouble, poor feeding, poor growth, excessive sweating or even low blood pressure. At times, heart failure can look like other problems such as colic, pneumonia or other respiratory infections.
What is the most common presenting complaint in congestive heart failure?
Edema. Edema is the quintessential symptom and sign of heart failure. Swelling of the feet and ankles, abdominal fullness due to swelling and distention of the liver, abdominal distention from ascites, scrotal swelling, and anasarca are different manifestations of fluid retention.
What are the 4 signs of heart failure?
There are many possible symptoms of heart failure. The most common are:Shortness of breath.Feeling tired (fatigue).Less able to exercise.Weak legs.Waking up to urinate.Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
What is the hallmark of congestive heart failure?
The hallmark of heart failure is dyspnea. The classic combination of raised jugular venous pressure (JVP), peripheral edema, palpable liver, basal crepitations, tachycardia, and a third heart sound is well known.
What is the most common congenital heart disease found in children?
The most common type of heart defect is a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
What causes heart failure in children?
The most common cause of heart failure in children is a heart defect that is present at birth (congenital). Other causes include: Heart muscle disease or enlargement of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). This is often an inherited cause.
Which finding would lead you to suspect congenital heart disease in a newborn?
After birth, a health care provider may suspect a diagnosis of a congenital heart defect if a child has growth delays or changes in the color of the lips, tongue or fingernails. The care provider may hear a heart sound (murmur) while listening to the child's heart with a stethoscope.
What is congestive heart failure in pediatric?
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart does not pump as well as it should. The most common symptoms in young children are difficulty feeding, sweating and poor weight gain. Older children may present with fatigue and exercise intolerance.
What causes congestive heart failure in kids?
CHF in children usually happens because: Too much blood flows through the heart (for example, from a congenital heart defect or severe anemia). The heart isn't pumping normally (for example, from a congenital heart defect or cardiomyopathy). The heart can't relax normally.
What causes heart failure in children?
The most common cause of heart failure in children is a heart defect that is present at birth (congenital). Other causes include: Heart muscle disease or enlargement of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). This is often an inherited cause.
What causes congestive heart failure in infants?
The most common cause of CHF in infants is a ventricular septal defect that presents around 6–8 weeks of age. This is because the volume of the left to right shunt increases as the pulmonary resistance falls. Although a murmur of VSD is apparent by one week, the full blown picture of CHF occurs around 6–8 weeks.