Congenital heart disease – Birth defects of the heart

What is congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease is heart disease present from birth. But it need not manifest at birth and may even be detected decades later as some are asymptomatic. Severe forms of congenital heart disease may start manifesting soon after birth and may sometimes be fatal in early life.

What are the common manifestations of congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease can manifest with breathlessness, bluish discoloration (blue baby), head sweating, failure to grow well (failure to thrive) or undue movements or prominence of the chest. Very often there are no symptoms and congenital heart disease is detected as a cardiac murmur on routine pediatric checkup.