What is congenital heart disease or CHD?

A babies heart development starts very early in pregnancy and almost completed at 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy. If any derangement occurs at this crucial time period , then baby will be born with heart defects. That is known as Congenital heart disease or CHD.

Is congenital heart disease( CHD) is a rare disease?
No, herat defect is the most common birth defect.
If 1000 babies are born then 8 to 12 babies are born with heart problem . Every year nearly 13 lakhs new babies are born with heart disease globally.

What is the Indian scenario?

In India 2 to 2.5 lakes babies are born with heart defects every year. Unfortunately we are having only 63 centre s are there to take care of these type of babies. Among those only 10 centres are doing large no of cases ( 500/ years cardiac surgeries).

How many properly trained doctors are available in India?
About 130 properly trained pediatric cardiologist and 110 cardiac surgeon are there to take care of such kids. Which is obviously not adequate for such
huge no of CHD kids. That is the reason large no of Heart disease kids are dying every day without proper diagnosis and treatment.

How do parents understand that their babies are suffering with heart problems?

1) If your baby is not gaining weight properly .
2). Baby is suffering with repetitive cough and cold ( respiratory tract infection) .
3) Feeding difficulties.
4) Excessive sweating .
Then there is a probability that this specific baby is suffering with heart problem.
But surprisingly some of the heart disease babies may not manifest any external signs. When a child specialist put stethoscope on chest at the time of routine care. He/ she may suspect heart disease and after doing proper echocardiography heart disease is diagnosed.
But if the specific baby is turning "BLUE " at rest or while crying then this is an emergency. Likely that baby is suffering with complex problem in heart. Better to consult pediatric cardiologist urgently.

Is congenital heart disease curable?

Yes . ALbsolutely. Most of the time now a days due to advancement of technology hole in heart and valve block can successfully be cured by microsurgery ( hole in heart can be closed by device and valve can be openend up by balloon) that means without open heart surgery.
On the other hand blue baby syndrome are mostly be treated with open heart surgery with excellent outcome.

Is it possible to know heart disease before birth?
Yes . By "fetal echo" which is a kind of ultrasound we can diagnose complex heart problem before birth.

What is the advantage of knowing heart problem before birth?

Some of the heart disease baby may die within couple of days after birth if we don't treat them at proper time. Those babies need special attention. Their birth should be taken place in a properly equipped hospital with pediatric cardiac facilities.

Is congenital heart disease only occur in children?
No , in India and subcontinent large no of adults are also suffering with heart problem which is present from birth.

Why they don't get treated?

Most of the time they are scared of open heart surgery. But now a days most of the hole in heart and valve problem can be treated by Device closure or by balloon dilatation. Patient can go home within 48 hours of successful DEVICE closure or BALLOON dilatation.