Innocent murmurs

Innocent murmurs

Innocent murmurs may be heard in up to fifty percent of normal children. Still’s murmur is a common innocent murmur of childhood. It is a low pitched, vibratory, ejection systolic murmur which is better heard in the supine position. It is thought to be due to the vibration of the right ventricular outflow tract and is heard on the left sternal edge. Venous hum is another common innocent murmur in children. It is a continuous murmur heard in the supraclavicular region. Since the jugular venous flow is aided by gravity, the venous hum decreases in the supine position. It disappears with compression of the jugular vein. It may be noted that diastolic murmurs are never innocent and they have to be taken as a significant finding of heart disease.