Learn about congenital heart disease this heart month
PARKTOWN – Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) affects one in 120 children.
February is heart month, but few know that one in 120 children are born with a congenital heart defect/disease.
The Gazette spoke to two paediatric cardiologists at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown to find out more about the disease this heart month.
Head of cardiology at the hospital Professor Hopewell Ntsinjana explained how children end up with congenital heart defect/disease. “During embryonic development, the heart is the first organ to start functioning. If anything goes wrong during the heart’s formation, the heart will end up with defects.”
Ntsinjana said that these defects fall into two groups, cyanotic (where the child turns blue because of low oxygen levels) or acyanotic (where the child is born pink). He said that while it is easier to notice pale-skinned children presenting blue, it is often difficult to notice this with dark-skinned babies.
“Some defects are simple and correctable, but if parents wait too long to seek intervention, it can cause irreversible damage. It is important that these defects be repaired within the first year because operations become much riskier in older children.”
Ntsinjana explained that babies with the defect will present symptoms including failure to thrive, tiredness when feeding, profuse sweating when feeding, puffy eyes, breathing difficulties and difficulty trying to keep up with their peers.
“If parents notice any of these symptoms, they must consult a nurse or physician, who should then refer them to a specialised cardiologist, who will give the diagnosis.”
To date, the definitive cause of congenital heart defect/disease is unknown, however, there is an increased link to genetic or certain syndromes including Down Syndrome. Mothers exposed to German measles during pregnancy, diabetic mothers with poor sugar levels during pregnancy and mothers exposed to environmental toxins have an increased likelihood of having children with the heart defect.
Paediatric cardiologist Dr Mamaila Lebea-Mokhalimetso said that limited resources in South Africa have made it more difficult for children with the heart defect to access care. She explained that there are no cardiologists in Mpumalanga, Limpopo or North West, meaning parents have to travel far to access specialised care. There is also a lack of awareness of congenital heart defect/disease in rural communities.
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital has performed 150 open-heart surgeries on children over the past year and performed 1 250 echocardiograms since inception. Technology has advanced to allow many children to undergo minimally invasive surgeries, meaning that they are not cut open across the chest, but undergo keyhole surgery.
“The outlook for congenital heart defect/disease patients has improved significantly over the years, but in South Africa, there are limited post-intervention ICU beds and not enough cardiologists and nurses specialising in these heart defects to deal with demand,” said Ntsinjana.
He said that it is vital for patients with this heart disease to experience long-term, multidisciplinary follow-up after surgery.
“We are thankful for partnerships like Boikanyo Foundation, who help fund these surgeries. We at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital need more partnerships like this to thrive,” said Ntsinjana.
Related articles:
Little Heroes Campaign helps children receive heart procedures at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
