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Types of Heart Disease in Children

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, MD on May 11, 2017 — Written by Colleen Story

CHD

Atherosclerosis

Arrhythmias

Kawasaki disease

Heart murmurs

Pericarditis

Rheumatic heart disease

Viral infections

Heart disease in children

Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults, but it can be especially tragic in children.

Many different types of heart problems can affect children. They include congenital heart defects, viral
infections that affect the heart, and even heart disease acquired later in childhood due to illnesses or
genetic syndromes.

The good news is that with advances in medicine and technology, many children with heart disease go
on to live active, full lives.

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type of heart disease that children are born with, usually caused by
heart defects that are present at birth. In the U.S., an estimated 1 percent of babies born each year have
CHD.

CHDs that affect children include:

heart valve disorders like a narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts blood flow

hypoplastic left heart syndrome, where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped

disorders involving holes in the heart, typically in the walls between the chambers and between major
blood vessels leaving the heart, including:

ventricular septal defects

atrial septal defects

patent ductus arteriosus

tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four defects, including:

a hole in the ventricular septum

a narrowed passage between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery

a thickened right side of the heart

a displaced aorta

Congenital heart defects may have long-term effects on a child’s health. They’re usually treated with
surgery, catheter procedures, medications, and in severe cases, heart transplants.

Some children will require lifelong monitoring and treatment.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the term used to describe the buildup of fat and cholesterol-filled plaques inside
arteries. As the buildup increases, arteries become stiffened and narrowed, which increases the risk of
blood clots and heart attacks. It typically takes many years for atherosclerosis to develop. It’s unusual for
children or teenagers to suffer from it.
However, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other health issues put children at higher risk. Doctors
recommend screening for high cholesterol and high blood pressure in children who have risk factors like
family history of heart disease or diabetes and are overweight or obese.

Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes like increased exercise and dietary modifications.

Arrhythmias

An arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. This can cause the heart to pump less efficiently.

Many different types of arrhythmias may occur in children, including:

a fast heart rate (tachycardia), the most common type found in children being supraventricular
tachycardia

a slow heart rate (bradycardia)

long Q-T Syndrome (LQTS)

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome)

Symptoms may include:

weakness

fatigue

dizziness

fainting

difficulty feeding

Treatments depend on the type of arrhythmia and how it’s affecting the child’s health.

Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is a rare disease that primarily affects children and can cause inflammation in the
blood vessels in their hands, feet, mouth, lips, and throat. It also produces a fever and swelling in the
lymph nodes. Researchers aren’t sure yet what causes it.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the illness is a major cause of heart conditions in as
many as 1 in 4 children. Most are under the age of 5.

Treatment depends on the extent of the disease, but often involves prompt treatment with intravenous
gamma globulin or aspirin (Bufferin). Corticosteroids can sometimes reduce future complications.
Children who suffer from this disease often require lifelong follow-up appointments to keep an eye on
heart health.

Heart murmurs

A heart murmur is a “whooshing” sound made by blood circulating through the heart’s chambers or
valves, or through blood vessels near the heart. Often it’s harmless. Other times it may signal an
underlying cardiovascular problem.

Heart murmurs may be caused by CHDs, fever, or anemia. If a doctor hears an abnormal heart murmur
in a child, they’ll perform additional tests to be sure the heart is healthy. “Innocent” heart murmurs
usually resolve by themselves, but if the heart murmur is caused by a problem with the heart, it may
require additional treatment.

Pericarditis

This condition occurs when the thin sac or membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardium) becomes
inflamed or infected. The amount of fluid between its two layers increases, impairing the heart’s ability
to pump blood like it should.

Pericarditis may occur after surgery to repair a CHD, or it may be caused by bacterial infections, chest
traumas, or connective tissue disorders like lupus. Treatments depend on the severity of the disease, the
child’s age, and their overall health.
Rheumatic heart disease

When left untreated, the streptococcus bacteria that cause strep throat and scarlet fever can also cause
rheumatic heart disease.

This disease can seriously and permanently damage the heart valves and the heart muscle (by causing
heart muscle inflammation, known as myocarditis). According to Seattle Children’s Hospital, rheumatic
fever typically occurs in children ages 5 to 15, but usually the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease
don’t show up for 10 to 20 years after the original illness. Rheumatic fever and subsequent rheumatic
heart disease are now uncommon in the U.S.

This disease can be prevented by promptly treating strep throat with antibiotics.

Viral infections

Viruses, in addition to causing respiratory illness or the flu, can also affect heart health. Viral infections
can cause myocarditis, which may affect the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.

Viral infections of the heart are rare and may show few symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they’re
similar to flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. Treatment
involves medications and treatments for the symptoms of myocarditis.

Read more: What are the symptoms of different types of heart disease? »

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Heart Disease

Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts

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en español

Enfermedad cardíaca

You know how important your heart is, so it's no wonder people worry when they hear someone has
heart problems.

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular (say: kar-dee-oh-VAS-kyoo-lur) disease, mainly affects older
people and means that there are problems with the heart and blood vessels.
You might know someone who has cardiovascular disease because more than 60 million Americans have
some form of it. This disease includes a variety of problems, including high blood pressure, hardening of
the arteries, chest pain, heart attacks, and strokes.

What Is Heart Disease?

The heart is the center of the cardiovascular system. Through the body's blood vessels, the heart pumps
blood to all of the body's cells. The blood carries oxygen, which the cells need. Cardiovascular disease is
a group of problems that occur when the heart and blood vessels aren't working the way they should.

Here are some of the problems that go along with cardiovascular disease:

Arteriosclerosis (say: ar-teer-ee-oh-skluh-ROW-sus): also called hardening of the arteries,

arteriosclerosis means the arteries become thickened and are no longer as flexible.

Atherosclerosis (say: ah-thuh-row-skluh-ROW-sus): a buildup of cholesterol and fat that makes the
arteries narrower so less blood can flow through. Those buildups are called plaque.

Angina (say: an-JY-nuh): people with angina feel a pain in the chest that means the heart isn't getting
enough blood.

Heart attack: when a blood clot or other blockage cuts blood flow to a part of the heart.

Stroke: when part of the brain doesn't get enough blood due to a clot or a burst blood vessel.

How Do You Get Heart Disease?

Heart disease isn't contagious — you can't catch it like you can the flu or a cold. Instead, certain things
increase a person's chances of getting cardiovascular disease. Doctors call these things risk factors.

Some of these risk factors a person can't do anything about, like being older and having other people in
the family who have had the same problems. But people do have control over some risk factors —
smoking, having high blood pressure, being overweight, and not exercising can increase the risk of
getting cardiovascular disease.

What Are the Signs of Heart Disease?

Many people do not realize they have cardiovascular disease until they have chest pain, a heart attack,
or stroke. These kinds of problems often need immediate attention and the person may need to go to
the emergency department of a hospital.

If it's not an emergency and a doctor suspects the person could have cardiovascular disease, the doctor
can do some tests to find out more about how the heart and blood vessels are working. These tests
include:

Electrocardiogram (say: eh-lek-tro-KAR-dee-uh-gram). This test records the heart's electrical activity. A
doctor puts the patient on a monitor and watches the machine to see the heart beat and determine if
it's normal.

Echocardiogram (say: eh-ko-KAR-dee-uh-gram). This test uses sound waves to diagnose heart problems.
These waves are bounced off the parts of the heart, creating a picture of the heart that is displayed on a
monitor.

Stress test. For this test, the person exercises while the doctor checks the electrocardiogram machine to
see how the heart muscle reacts.

Catheterization (say: kah-thuh-tuh-ruh-ZAY-shun). In this test a long, thin tube is inserted into the
patient's body to inject a special dye, which can show narrowed areas in arteries due to plaque buildup
and find other problems.

Carotid (say: kuh-RAH-tid) artery scan. This test uses sound waves to check for blockages in the carotid
artery, a large blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain.

Surgeries

If a patient has cardiovascular disease, the doctor will talk about how stopping smoking, losing weight,
eating a healthy diet, and getting exercise can help. The person also may need to take medicine, have
surgery, or both.

There are different surgeries for the heart and blood vessels. These include:

Angioplasty (say: AN-jee-uh-plas-tee). This opens a blocked vessel by using a balloon-like device at an
artery's narrowest point. The doctor may also insert a stent, which is a tiny, stainless steel tube that
props the vessel open and makes sure it stays clear.
Atherectomy (say: ath-uh-REK-tuh-mee). This involves cutting the plaque out of an artery, so blood can
flow freely.

Bypass surgery. This involves taking part of an artery or vein from another part of the body (like the arm
or leg) and using it to channel blood around a blocked area in an artery.

Pacemakers. A pacemaker is a small electronic device that's put inside the body to regulate the
heartbeat.

Valve replacement. If a heart valve is damaged or isn't working, a surgeon can replace it.

Carotid endarterectomy (say: en-dar-tuh-REK-tuh-me). During this procedure, a surgeon removes plaque
deposits from the carotid artery to prevent a stroke.

If someone you know is getting one of these operations, you might feel worried. The good news is that
these surgeries can help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other problems. The amount of time the
person will need to spend in the hospital will vary, depending on the operation and the person's health.
The person may be tired and worn out after the surgery, but you can help by making a "Get Well" card
and paying a visit.

Can Kids Get Heart Disease?

Kids usually don't have any symptoms of heart and blood vessel problems. But by starting heart-healthy
habits right now, kids can reduce the chance they will ever need to worry about cardiovascular disease.

So what should you do? Don't smoke, for one. And be sure to eat healthy, exercise, and maintain a
healthy weight. Your heart and blood vessels will thank you later!

Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts

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Overview

Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease
umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems
(arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.
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The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with the term "cardiovascular disease."
Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels
that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that
affect your heart's muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices.

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Symptoms

Heart disease symptoms depend on what type of heart disease you have.

Symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels (atherosclerotic disease)

Cardiovascular disease symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more
likely to have chest pain; women are more likely to have other symptoms along with chest discomfort,
such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue.

Symptoms can include:

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)

Shortness of breath

Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your
body are narrowed

Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back

You might not be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease until you have a heart attack, angina, stroke or
heart failure. It's important to watch for cardiovascular symptoms and discuss concerns with your
doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early with regular evaluations.

Heart disease symptoms caused by abnormal heartbeats (heart arrhythmias)

A heart arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat. Your heart may beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly.
Heart arrhythmia symptoms can include:

Fluttering in your chest

Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)

Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)

Chest pain or discomfort

Shortness of breath

Lightheadedness

Dizziness

Fainting (syncope) or near fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart defects

Serious congenital heart defects — defects you're born with — usually become evident soon after birth.
Heart defect symptoms in children could include:

Pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis)

Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes

In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain

Less serious congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood or during
adulthood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects that usually aren't immediately life-
threatening include:

Easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity

Easily tiring during exercise or activity

Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet

Heart disease symptoms caused by weak heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy)

In early stages of cardiomyopathy, you may have no symptoms. As the condition worsens, symptoms
may include:

Breathlessness with exertion or at rest

Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet

Fatigue

Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering

Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart infections

Endocarditis is an infection that affects the inner membrane that separates the chambers and valves of
the heart (endocardium). Heart infection symptoms can include:

Fever

Shortness of breath

Weakness or fatigue

Swelling in your legs or abdomen

Changes in your heart rhythm

Dry or persistent cough

Skin rashes or unusual spots

Heart disease symptoms caused by valvular heart disease

The heart has four valves — the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves — that open and close to
direct blood flow through your heart. Valves may be damaged by a variety of conditions leading to
narrowing (stenosis), leaking (regurgitation or insufficiency) or improper closing (prolapse).

Depending on which valve isn't working properly, valvular heart disease symptoms generally include:

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Irregular heartbeat

Swollen feet or ankles

Chest pain

Fainting (syncope)

When to see a doctor

Seek emergency medical care if you have these heart disease symptoms:

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Fainting

Heart disease is easier to treat when detected early, so talk to your doctor about your concerns
regarding your heart health. If you're concerned about developing heart disease, talk to your doctor
about steps you can take to reduce your heart disease risk. This is especially important if you have a
family history of heart disease.

If you think you may have heart disease, based on new signs or symptoms you're having, make an
appointment to see your doctor.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

Causes

How the heart works

Chambers and valves of the heart

Chambers and valves of the heart Open pop-up dialog box

Your heart is a pump. It's a muscular organ about the size of your fist, situated slightly left of center in
your chest. Your heart is divided into the right and the left side. The division prevents oxygen-rich blood
from mixing with oxygen-poor blood. Oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart after circulating through
your body.

The right side of the heart, comprising the right atrium and ventricle, collects and pumps blood to the
lungs through the pulmonary arteries.

The lungs refresh the blood with a new supply of oxygen. The lungs also breathe out carbon dioxide, a
waste product.

Oxygen-rich blood then enters the left side of the heart, comprising the left atrium and ventricle.

The left side of the heart pumps blood through the aorta to supply tissues throughout the body with
oxygen and nutrients.

Heart valves

Four valves within your heart keep your blood moving the right way by opening only one way and only
when they need to. To function properly, the valve must be formed properly, must open all the way and
must close tightly so there's no leakage. The four valves are:

Tricuspid

Mitral

Pulmonary

Aortic

Heartbeats

The blueprints to your heart

Click here for an infographic to learn more

A beating heart contracts and relaxes in a continuous cycle.

During contraction (systole), your ventricles contract, forcing blood into the vessels to your lungs and
body.

During relaxation (diastole), the ventricles are filled with blood coming from the upper chambers (left
and right atria).

Electrical system

Your heart's electrical wiring keeps it beating, which controls the continuous exchange of oxygen-rich
blood with oxygen-poor blood. This exchange keeps you alive.

Electrical impulses begin high in the right atrium and travel through specialized pathways to the
ventricles, delivering the signal for the heart to pump.

The conduction system keeps your heart beating in a coordinated and normal rhythm, which keeps
blood circulating.

Various heart disease causes

The causes of heart disease vary by type of heart disease.

Causes of cardiovascular disease

Development of atherosclerosis

Development of atherosclerosis Open pop-up dialog box

While cardiovascular disease can refer to different heart or blood vessel problems, the term is often
used to mean damage to your heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis), a
buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries. Plaque buildup thickens and stiffens artery walls, which can
inhibit blood flow through your arteries to your organs and tissues.

Atherosclerosis is also the most common cause of cardiovascular disease. It can be caused by
correctable problems, such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight and smoking.
Causes of heart arrhythmia

Common causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or conditions that can lead to arrhythmias
include:

Heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects)

Coronary artery disease

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Smoking

Excessive use of alcohol or caffeine

Drug abuse

Stress

Some over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, dietary supplements and herbal

remedies

Valvular heart disease

In a healthy person with a normal, healthy heart, it's unlikely for a fatal arrhythmia to develop without
some outside trigger, such as an electrical shock or the use of illegal drugs. That's primarily because a
healthy person's heart is free from any abnormal conditions that cause an arrhythmia, such as an area of
scarred tissue.

However, in a heart that's diseased or deformed, the heart's electrical impulses may not properly start
or travel through the heart, making arrhythmias more likely to develop.

Causes of congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects usually develop while a baby is in the womb. Heart defects can develop as the
heart develops, about a month after conception, changing the flow of blood in the heart. Some medical
conditions, medications and genes may play a role in causing heart defects.
Heart defects can also develop in adults. As you age, your heart's structure can change, causing a heart
defect.

Causes of cardiomyopathy

The cause of cardiomyopathy, a thickening or enlarging of the heart muscle, may depend on the type:

Dilated cardiomyopathy. The cause of this most common type of cardiomyopathy often is unknown. It
may be caused by reduced blood flow to the heart (ischemic heart disease) resulting from damage after
a heart attack, infections, toxins and certain drugs. It may also be inherited from a parent. It usually
enlarges (dilates) the left ventricle.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type, in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, usually is
inherited. It can also develop over time because of high blood pressure or aging.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy. This least common type of cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart muscle
to become rigid and less elastic, can occur for no known reason. Or it may be caused by diseases, such as
connective tissue disorders, excessive iron buildup in your body (hemochromatosis), the buildup of
abnormal proteins (amyloidosis) or by some cancer treatments.

Causes of heart infection

A heart infection, such as endocarditis, is caused when an irritant, such as a bacterium, virus or
chemical, reaches your heart muscle. The most common causes of heart infection include:

Bacteria

Viruses

Parasites

Causes of valvular heart disease

There are many causes of diseases of your heart valves. You may be born with valvular disease, or the
valves may be damaged by conditions such as:

Rheumatic fever

Infections (infectious endocarditis)

Connective tissue disorders

More Information

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Omega-6 fatty acids

Risk factors

Risk factors for developing heart disease include:

Age. Aging increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart
muscle.

Sex. Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. However, women's risk increases after
menopause.

Family history. A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially
if a parent developed it at an early age (before age 55 for a male relative, such as your brother or father,
and 65 for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).

Smoking. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining,
making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than in
nonsmokers.

Certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy for cancer. Some chemotherapy drugs and radiation
therapies may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Poor diet. A diet that's high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol can contribute to the development of heart
disease.

High blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your
arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows.

High blood cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of formation
of plaques and atherosclerosis.

Diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as
obesity and high blood pressure.

Obesity. Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors.

Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise also is associated with many forms of heart disease and some of its
other risk factors, as well.
Stress. Unrelieved stress may damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease.

Poor hygiene. Not regularly washing your hands and not establishing other habits that can help prevent
viral or bacterial infections can put you at risk of heart infections, especially if you already have an
underlying heart condition. Poor dental health also may contribute to heart disease.

Complications

Complications of heart disease include:

Heart failure. One of the most common complications of heart disease, heart failure occurs when your
heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Heart failure can result from many forms of
heart disease, including heart defects, cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, heart infections or
cardiomyopathy.

Heart attack. A blood clot blocking the blood flow through a blood vessel that feeds the heart causes a
heart attack, possibly damaging or destroying a part of the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis can cause a
heart attack.

Stroke. The risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease also can lead to an ischemic stroke, which
happens when the arteries to your brain are narrowed or blocked so that too little blood reaches your
brain. A stroke is a medical emergency — brain tissue begins to die within just a few minutes of a stroke.

Aneurysm. A serious complication that can occur anywhere in your body, an aneurysm is a bulge in the
wall of your artery. If an aneurysm bursts, you may face life-threatening internal bleeding.

Peripheral artery disease. Atherosclerosis also can lead to peripheral artery disease. When you develop
peripheral artery disease, your extremities — usually your legs — don't receive enough blood flow. This
causes symptoms, most notably leg pain when walking (claudication).

Sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing
and consciousness, often caused by an arrhythmia. Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not
treated immediately, it is fatal, resulting in sudden cardiac death.

More Information

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Flu shots and heart disease

Prevention

Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can't be prevented. However, you can help prevent
many other types of heart disease by making the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart
disease, such as:
Quit smoking

Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week

Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat

Maintain a healthy weight

Reduce and manage stress

Practice good hygiene

More Information

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Heart disease prevention

Omega-3 in fish

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Heart disease care at Mayo Clinic

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March 22, 2018

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