The causes are not known. However certain drugs, chemicals and infections during pregnancy may cause CHD. Like rubella (German measles) infection during pregnancy may lead to congenital heart defect like patent ductus arteriosus. The probable causes of congenital heart disease includes:

• Congenital heart disease in baby’s mother & father

• Congenital heart disease in the baby’s brother or sister

• Diabetes in mothers

• German measles toxoplasmosis

• Use of Cocaine & other drug

• Certain over the counter prescription

A Good Echocardiography by experienced Paediatric Cardiologist helps in diagnosing most of the congenital defect. However to delineate the details of the anatomical defects particularly for complex congenital heart disease, Cardiac Catheterization and Cine Angiography are essential. This helps in proper surgical correction of the defect. However a good clinical examination after the birth of a baby by the pediatrician cannot be over emphasized.

Most of the congenital defects need surgical intervention. Nowadays lots of defects are managed by the Cardiologist by various interventions like trans catheter closure of Septal defect and duct flow obliteration. However surgery remains gold standard for all these lesions. The complex intra cardiac defects are repaired by open heart surgery procedure. However some defects are amenable to closed surgical procedure.

The prognosis depends on the type of defects and its complexity. It is important to seek medical advise on time to get optimal surgical result.

During pregnancy alcohol intake to be avoided. Before taking any medicine doctor to be consulted, Mother should be immunized against rubella. Consanguineous marriages are common in some part of our country and this sometimes can cause CHD. Proper education in this matter is necessary. These days CHD are detected before the baby is born by foetal ultrasonography. It is possible to follow the baby’s condition throughout the pregnancy and immediate attention can be given to the baby as soon as he or she is born. This can make a difference between life and death for some babies born with complex congenital heart defect like hypo-plastic left heart syndrome.

Causes   |  Diagnosis  |  Treatment   |  Prevention

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