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Congenital heart disease is a category of heart disease that includes abnormalities in cardiovascular structures that occur before birth. These defects occur while the fetus is developing in the uterus and may affect approximately 1 in 100 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood, or not until adulthood. Other congenital defects may cause no symptoms.

What Causes Congenital Heart Disease?

The cause of congenital heart disease is unknown. However, there are some factors that are associated with an increased chance of having congenital heart disease. These risk factors include:Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in the child, such as Down syndrome,Taking certain medications or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy,Maternal viral infection, such as rubella (German measles) in the first trimester of pregnancy.The risk of having a child with congenital heart disease may double if a parent or a sibling has a congenital heart defect..

What Types of Congenital Heart Problems Are There?

The most common congenital heart problems include:

Heart valve defects. These can result in a narrowing or stenosis of the valves, or a complete closure that impedes or obstructs forward blood flow. Other valve defects include leaky valves that don’t close properly, thereby allowing blood to leak backwards. Defects in the walls between the atria and ventricles of the heart (atrial and ventricular septal defects). Holes or passageways between the heart’s different chambers may allow abnormal mixing of oxygenated and unoxygenated blood between the right and left sides of the heart. Heart muscle abnormalities that can lead to heart failure.

What Are the Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease in Adults?

Congentital heart disease may be diagnosed before birth, right after birth, during childhood, or not until adulthood. It is possible to have a defect and no symptoms at all. In adults, if symptoms are present, they may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Limited ability to exercise
• Congenital Heart Defects in Children

There are several congenital heart defects that are detected and treated early in infancy. Most of them are abnormal connections among the veins, as well as other arteries of the heart (aortic and pulmonary). These abnormal connections can allow unoxygenated blood to flow to the body instead of to the lungs, or allow oxygenated blood to flow to the lungs instead of to the body. They may also cause heart failure. Some examples of congenital heart disease in infants and children include:

• Patent ductus arteriosus (when blood bypasses the lungs, preventing oxygen from circulating throughout the body)
• Tetralogy of Fallot (four different heart defects that occur together)
• Transposition of the great vessels (blood from the left side of the heart and right side of the heart intermix because the large artery connections are incorrect)
• Coarctation of the aorta (a pinched aorta)
• Heart valve problems
• What Are the Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease in Infants and Children?
• The symptoms of congenital heart disease in infants and children include:
• Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, fingernails, and lips)
• Fast breathing and poor feeding
• Poor weight gain
• Recurrent lung infections
• Inability to exercise
• How Are Congenital Heart Defects in Children Treated?

Some congenital heart defects will require surgery or an interventional procedure to repair the problem. Children with congenital heart disease may also need treatment with medication to improve heart function.

Children and adults with congenital heart disease should be treated by a cardiologist who specializes in congenital heart disease. Some types of disease may require a team approach as the child grows into an adult.