How can you tell if a heart murmur is innocent?
Your doctor will use an echocardiogram – an ultrasound of the heart – to determine if a murmur is innocent or abnormal.
What is an innocent heart murmur in babies?
A child with an innocent murmur has a normal heart and does not need to restrict any activity. An innocent murmur may get louder with activity, exercise, or sickness. It is not harmful to your child. Your child does not need treatment or medicine.
When should I worry about an innocent heart murmur?
Innocent murmurs aren’t dangerous, they sometimes disappear over time and generally don’t require medical intervention. Innocent heart murmurs can be caused by physical activity or exercise, pregnancy, fever, anemia, hyperthyroidism, or a rapid growth phase in adolescents.
Why do newborns have heart murmurs?
Heart murmurs are a common finding in infants and children and mostly originate from normal flow patterns with no structural or anatomic abnormalities of the heart or vessels and are referred to as innocent, physiological or normal murmurs; conversely, murmur may be created by abnormal flow patterns in the heart and …
Is a heart murmur in a newborn serious?
According to the AAP, heart murmurs are a concern when they occur very early at birth or during the first 6 months of life. These murmurs, common in premature babies, are not innocent, and most likely will require the attention of a pediatric cardiologist immediately.
Is a heart murmur serious in babies?
Parents might worry if they’re told that their child has a heart murmur. But heart murmurs are very common, and many kids are found to have one at some point. Most murmurs are not a cause for concern and won’t affect a child’s health at all.
Can baby heart murmur go away?
Many heart murmurs are normal, extra sounds in children with strong, healthy hearts. These children don’t need treatment. Some of these heart murmurs may go away on their own with time. If the murmur is from a congenital heart defect, treatment may include medicine, procedures, or surgery.
Do heart murmurs in babies go away?
Kids with these murmurs don’t need a special diet, restriction of activities, or any other special treatment. Those old enough to understand that they have a heart murmur should be reassured that they aren’t any different from other kids. Most innocent murmurs will go away on their own as a child gets older.
Why do babies have heart murmurs?
These murmurs result from a healthy heart pumping blood normally. If your child has such a murmur, it will probably be discovered between the ages of 1-5 during a routine examination. Your child’s doctor can usually tell if a murmur is normal just by listening to its sound though a stethoscope.
