Every year, the number of children with congenital cardiovascular system pathologies steadily increases. The most common heart diseases in children are congenital and acquired heart defects, arrhythmias, vascular conduction disorders, joint diseases, mitral valve prolapse, rheumatism, myocardial dystrophy, and myocarditis, as well as connective tissue pathologies.
Parents should pay close attention to their children's health so they can timely notice signs related to cardiovascular diseases and take appropriate measures.
Reasons for visiting a cardiologist include the following factors:
- The pediatrician hears a heart murmur in the child, the small child is not gaining weight well and is constantly spitting up,
- The child shows noticeable skin color changes (cyanosis) around the eyes, lips, and fingertips,
- The child frequently experiences headaches and dizziness, tires quickly, struggles with physical exertion, has difficulty with schoolwork, suffers from sleep disturbances, often appears in a semi-faint state or loses consciousness,
- The child has developed shortness of breath, fluctuations in blood pressure, a feeling of air shortage, rapid breathing, and pain in the left side of the chest,
- After a previous infection, the child is weak, tires quickly, and has a decreased appetite,
- The child has a chronic illness (tonsillitis, adenoiditis, pharyngitis),
- The child experiences joint pain, stiffness in the mornings, swelling, and deformities in the joints,
- The child is actively involved in dancing or sports.
One of the main tasks of pediatric cardiology in Israel is the early diagnosis of cardiovascular system pathologies in children, with the possibility of further treatment and disease prevention. To establish a diagnosis, laboratory tests and instrumental examinations are conducted after consulting with a doctor, utilizing the most reliable advanced technologies. These include electrocardiography and echocardiography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, fluctuations in blood pressure are continuously monitored.
Pediatric cardiology differs from adult cardiology in that children may not always be able to or may completely fail to complain about the symptoms of illness. A child with heart disease can appear completely healthy for a long time, growing and developing just like all other children. Therefore, it is very important for parents to observe their children closely and to regularly visit a pediatrician.