Heart Disease in Children: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Care

Comprehensive guide to understanding heart disease in children—its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and living with the condition.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Comprehensive guide to understanding heart disease in children—its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and living with the condition.

Heart Disease in Children: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care

Children can experience various heart diseases, some present at birth (congenital) and others acquired later. Early recognition, diagnosis, and management play vital roles in minimizing risks and supporting long-term health. This guide covers the main types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and coping strategies for families and children living with heart disease.

Understanding Heart Disease in Children

Broadly, heart disease in children falls into two categories:

Congenital heart disease: Structural problems with the heart that are present at birth.
Acquired heart disease: Heart conditions that develop after birth due to illness, infection, or other factors.

Why Early Detection Is Important

Prompt identification and intervention can greatly improve outcomes for children with heart disease. Early diagnosis allows healthcare providers to offer effective treatment strategies, minimize complications, and support growth and development throughout childhood.

Types of Heart Disease in Children

Here are the most common types of heart disease seen in children:

Congenital Heart Disease

These conditions involve structural problems with the heart formed during fetal development.

Septal defects: Holes in the heart’s septum, the wall dividing the heart’s left and right sides (such as atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect).
Valve defects: Abnormalities in the heart valves, such as narrowing or improper closure.
Coarctation of the aorta: Narrowing of the body’s main artery.
Tetralogy of Fallot: A combination of four heart irregularities that affect blood flow.
Transposition of the great arteries: The positions of the main arteries leaving the heart are switched.

Acquired Heart Disease

These heart issues develop after birth, usually due to external factors like infection or systemic illness.

Kawasaki disease: Causes inflammation in the blood vessels and can affect the coronary arteries.
Rheumatic heart disease: Damage to heart valves from rheumatic fever, itself a complication of untreated strep throat.
Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle making it harder for the heart to pump blood. Types include hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Heart infections: Such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart), or pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining).

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes of Congenital Heart Disease

Genetic and chromosomal abnormalities: For example, Down syndrome and other genetic conditions increase the risk.
Maternal influences: Medications, maternal infections (such as rubella), diabetes, alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy.
Environmental factors: Exposure to certain chemicals or medications in utero.

Causes of Acquired Heart Disease

Viral or bacterial infections: Some viruses can inflame the heart muscle or its lining.
Untreated strep throat: Can lead to rheumatic fever, damaging heart valves.
Autoimmune reactions: As seen in Kawasaki disease.

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Children

Symptoms can differ significantly based on the type of heart disease and the child’s age. Some children display noticeable signs soon after birth, while others may not show symptoms until later in childhood.

Age Group	Common Symptoms
Infants	Rapid or labored breathing Poor feeding / difficulty nursing Poor weight gain Excessive sweating (especially while feeding) Swelling (feet, ankles, face, belly) Bluish tint to lips or skin (cyanosis)
Older Children & Teens	Tires easily, especially with exercise Shortness of breath Chronic cough Abnormal heartbeat (palpitations, rapid or irregular heart rate) Swelling in legs, ankles, or abdomen Poor appetite and growth Frequent respiratory infections

Additional Symptoms by Condition

Kawasaki disease: High fever, rash, red eyes, swollen hands/feet/tongue, cracked lips, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain.
Rheumatic heart disease: Fever, chills, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, joint pain, night sweats.
Cardiomyopathy: Fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, cough while lying down, abdominal bloating, fainting.

Diagnosing Heart Disease in Children

Diagnosis usually involves a combination of medical history review, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies.

Physical exam: Listening for abnormal heart sounds (murmurs), checking for swelling, breathing assessment, skin color check.
Laboratory tests: Blood tests to look for signs of heart failure, infection, or inflammation.
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): Measures the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm.
Echocardiogram: Ultrasound of the heart to visualize its structure and function.
Chest X-ray: Checks for an enlarged heart or fluid buildup in the lungs.
Advanced imaging: MRI, CT scans, or cardiac catheterization (measuring heart pressures and oxygen levels) may be used in complex cases.

Treatment Options for Pediatric Heart Disease

Treatment depends on the disease type, the child’s age and health, symptoms, and the severity of the condition. Approaches generally include:

Medication

Diuretics (water pills) to help eliminate excess fluid
Afterload reducers to lower blood pressure and ease the heart’s workload
Medications to control heart rhythm
Drugs to improve heart pumping or reduce inflammation
Antibiotics for infection or to prevent complications like rheumatic fever
Immunoglobulin for Kawasaki disease

Surgical and Interventional Procedures

Catheter-based interventions: Minimally invasive repairs performed through blood vessels.
Surgical corrections: Open-heart surgery to repair structural defects, replace or repair valves, or alleviate vessel obstructions.
Pacemakers: Implanted devices to control abnormal heart rhythms.
Ablation therapy: Uses radio waves to correct rhythm problems.
Mechanical pumps (LVAD), ECMO: Temporary supports for severe heart failure.
Heart transplant: Considered in severe cases when all other treatments have failed.

Lifestyle and Supportive Care

Nutrition support for growth
Physical activity guidance (as appropriate)
Counseling and psychosocial support for family and child
Regular monitoring and follow-up care with pediatric cardiologist

Living with Heart Disease: Family Guidance and Long-Term Care

A child diagnosed with heart disease may face physical, emotional, and social challenges. Families can help by:

Ensuring regular check-ups with healthcare providers
Adhering to prescribed treatments and medications
Recognizing and reporting new symptoms promptly
Connecting with support groups and resources
Encouraging open communication about feelings and fears

School and Social Life

Most children with heart disease can participate in school and extracurricular activities—with adjustments as recommended by their doctor.
Parents should inform teachers, coaches, and school nurses about their child’s condition and any emergency action plans.

Transitioning to Adult Care

Pediatric patients with congenital or chronic heart issues often require continued care into adulthood.
Transition planning with healthcare providers ensures smooth transfer to adult cardiology services.

Prevention and Prognosis

Not all types of childhood heart disease are preventable, especially congenital forms that stem from genetic or developmental causes. However, parents can take steps to minimize risks:

Managing maternal health during pregnancy (control diabetes, avoid harmful substances)
Seeking timely treatment for infections (particularly strep throat in children)
Ensuring up-to-date vaccinations
Fostering a healthy lifestyle as a child grows (nutrition, physical activity)

Prognosis

Outcomes vary. With advances in diagnostics, treatment, and ongoing management, most children with heart disease lead healthy, active lives. Some require lifelong care or repeat interventions, while others may experience full correction and resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are warning signs of heart disease in children?

Signs include rapid or difficult breathing, excessive sweating (especially while feeding for infants), poor feeding, slow weight gain, swelling in the legs or belly, persistent coughing, fatigue, and a bluish tint to the skin or lips (cyanosis).

Can heart disease be cured in children?

Some congenital defects can be corrected with surgery or catheter-based interventions. Certain acquired conditions, like those caused by Kawasaki disease, can resolve completely with proper treatment. Others, especially complex or genetic cardiomyopathies, may require ongoing management.

Is heart disease in children common?

Congenital heart defects occur in about 1% of live births. Acquired heart diseases are less common but can arise from infections, inflammation, or systemic illness.

Do all children with heart disease need surgery?

No. Many cases are managed with medication, close monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments alone. Surgery is reserved for moderate to severe symptoms not controlled by other means or for structural corrections that cannot heal on their own.

Can children with heart disease play sports?

Many children with heart conditions can participate in physical activities, but some restrictions may apply depending on the specific diagnosis, severity, and the advice of their cardiologist. Individual assessment is crucial to ensure safety.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete