When it comes to your child’s health, heart concerns can be particularly worrying. You might find yourself wondering, “Does my child need a Cardiac Doctor?” Often, the first step is a visit to your pediatrician, who plays a crucial role in identifying potential heart issues in children. If your pediatrician detects irregularities such as a heart beating too fast or slow, a new heart murmur, or if your child experiences chest pain or palpitations, they might recommend a consultation with a specialist. These signs, while sometimes benign, warrant further investigation by a cardiac doctor specializing in children, also known as a pediatric cardiologist. Referrals are also common for children with a family history of fainting, structural heart disease, or heart rhythm disorders. Furthermore, infants exhibiting symptoms like excessive sweating during feeding, difficulty finishing a bottle, or poor weight gain may also be referred to a cardiac doctor for evaluation. Even during pregnancy, expectant mothers with a family history or conditions that increase the risk of heart problems in their child, or if an ultrasound raises concerns, may be advised to seek a consultation with a pediatric cardiac doctor.
So, what exactly does a cardiac doctor for children do? Pediatric cardiologists are experts in diagnosing and treating heart problems in young individuals, from the fetal stage through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Dr. Dina Ferdman, a pediatric cardiologist at Yale Medicine, explains, “Typically, when kids have heart disease, it is due to a congenital malformation that has been present since birth—although sometimes heart problems can develop later in childhood.” Congenital heart defects, meaning conditions present at birth, can include abnormalities in blood vessels, holes in the heart’s chambers, and heart valve problems. Besides congenital issues, children can also develop acquired heart conditions, such as Kawasaki disease, which involves inflammation of the blood vessels.
Cardiac doctors specializing in pediatrics offer a comprehensive range of treatments. These include medical management, interventional procedures, and surgical options for various conditions. Some of the common conditions they manage are congenital heart disease, atrial and ventricular septal defects (holes in the heart), congestive heart disease, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and heart failure. A significant aspect of their care involves ongoing monitoring of patients, fostering long-term relationships with families to ensure the best possible outcomes for their young patients’ heart health.
For more complex or specific heart issues, a child might be referred to a pediatric cardiac subspecialist. As Dr. Ferdman notes, “These doctors include most of the heart subspecialists that care for adults.” These specialized cardiac doctors possess focused expertise in areas like fetal cardiology (heart problems before birth), cardiac genetics, cardiac imaging, electrophysiology (heart rhythm disorders), exercise physiology related to the heart, heart transplantation, cardiac surgery, and adult congenital heart disease (managing patients as they transition to adult care). Having access to this network of specialized cardiac doctors ensures that children receive the most appropriate and advanced care tailored to their specific heart condition.
