• Topic
• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Signs, symptoms & diagnosis after birth >> Signs, symptoms & diagnosis after birth

Signs, symptoms & diagnosis after birth

• Clip
• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH31 >> Describes their baby's symptoms and the missed diagnosis by several health professionals.

Vikram was diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) at 3 months old. He had corrective open heart surgery to close the VSD at four and a half months old. He is recovering well and no further treatment is expected. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH04 >> For 5 weeks the health visitor told her she was being over anxious about her baby's symptoms. She saw her GP & was immediately referred to hospital wh

Their daughter was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus. Treatment: Surgery at 5 weeks old to fit a conduit and repair the hole. Cardiac catheterisation planned for pre-school. Current medication: captopril.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH29 >> She followed her gut instinct that her baby's symptoms were serious and this saved her baby's life.

Lee was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Treatment: Flecainide up until 14 months old. Possibility of radio frequency ablation when Lee is older (age 10 plus). Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH20 >> Their GP noticed a loud heart murmur at his routine six week check-up. They were referred to the hospital immediately and he was diagnosed with tetral

Toby was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallots and mild branch pulmonary stenosis at six weeks old. Treatment: he had a catheter at 6 months old and corrective open heart surgery at 8 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH26 >> Describe their daughter's symptoms and diagnosis with a partial ventricular septal defect at the age of 2 and a half years.

Her daughter was diagnosed with Partial Ventricular Septal Defect after GP noticed a heart murmur when she was two. Treatment: open heart surgery to repair hole and mend the valve at 2½ yrs old. Pacemaker fitted 5 days after surgery. Possibility of further surgery in the future. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH29 >> Explains what she told her 3 year old son about his Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

Lee was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Treatment: Flecainide up until 14 months old. Possibility of radio frequency ablation when Lee is older (age 10 plus). Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH09 >> Advises parents to trust their own instincts if they have concerns about their child's health and they are not happy with the medical advice they rece

Their son was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta, PDA, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Hypoplastic Aortic Arch, VSD, Mitral Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension. Treatment: Surgery at 3 weeks old, mitral valve replacement at 2.5 years. 2 cardiac catheterisations at 2½ yrs and at 3½ yrs. Further mitral valve replacement planned. Current medication: warfarin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH23 >> Describe being worried about minor illnesses when their child was first home from hospital.

Caitlan was diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia, VSD and Dextro cardia. Treatment: closed heart surgery at 48 hrs old and open heart surgery at 11 months old. Further surgery planned when their daughter is older. Current medication: none.

• Condition
• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease

Publication date: May 2003        Last updated: December 2011

Review date: December 2013

 

Congenital heart disease includes a range of conditions affecting the heart from birth. In partnership with the British Heart Foundation we interviewed the parents of 30 children with congenital heart disease about their experiences during their child's early years. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.