Who should observe a child with congenital heart disease? How to warn bacterial endocarditis? Read in this article.
Content
Observation of a pediatrician or family doctor
Permanent observation of the doctor is important for all children, especially with UPU. Cardiologist will ask the family doctor to inspect your child regularly. A child with a heartless heart can endure ordinary childhood diseases as well as children with a healthy heart. Your child does not need antibiotics with each disease due to the presence of HPS. Before or after surgery, your child should be observed by the doctor and pass vaccinations, which are recommended to all children in accordance with age. Perhaps your child will have to make special vaccinations, for example, against influenza.
Observation from children's cardiologist
To be sure that the condition of your child is improving, periodic inspections of a specialist doctor are needed. They are usually assigned to small breaks (it may be days, weeks or months immediately after the diagnosis is set or after surgery). Later these intervals increase. Depending on the state of the child, its periodic examination may need.
Among the conducted studies may be:
- blood tests;
- ordinary electrocardiogram;
- daily outpatient registration ECG (Holter monitoring);
- Radiography of the chest;
- Doppler echocardiogram;
- Tests with load.
Some children need repeated heart catheterization.
How to warn bacterial endocarditis?
Bacterial Endocarditis (BE) — This disease caused by bacteria, which fall into the bloodstream and settled on the inner surface of the heart, heart valves, or in blood vessels.
Although BE meets extremely rarely, a child with a vice heart is exposed to a lot of risk. Thus, BE prevention is very important. It is necessary before any surgical intervention or treatment of teeth, during which bacteria can get into blood.
Most patients before the operation about the heart defect need antibiotics to prevent BE. Few patients who have already experienced operations also need antibiotic protection.
To prevent BE, you should give antibiotics for a child 1-2 hours before surgery or visit to the dentist. Also give antibiotics 6-8 hours after the above procedures. The American Cardiology Association recommends taking antibiotics when passing the patient's following procedures:
- when removing almonds or adenoids;
- with operations on the gastrointestinal tract, genital organs or urinary tract;
- In the work of dental procedures that can cause bleeding from gums or mouth.
Your children's cardiologist will tell more about how to prevent BE, also pay attention to the application on the last page of our page. Showing this card dentist, pediatrician, family or other doctor, you will get the necessary antibiotic in the prescribed dose. This dose depends on the weight of the child, the state of his heart and the type of planned procedure.
Value of active lifestyle
Most children with UPU can be completely active. They do not need to limit. In fact, cardiologists encourage activity, strengthening heart and maintaining interest in life. It can be swimming and cycling, running and tennis. With some specific states, the doctor may advise the child to avoid large physical exertion — such as sports.
