Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease includes different types of heart defects that are present at birth, such as:

• Septal defects are holes in the walls between the atria and ventricles. This causes oxygenated blood to mix with nonoxygenated blood. Septal defects can lead to heart failure if left untreated.
• Valve defects can cause blood leakage or backflow when the valve flaps do to close properly. Valve defects are sometimes detected as a heart murmur.

Children with these conditions may experience symptoms including:

• Trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Rapid heartbeat

Treatments for congenital heart disease often require surgical repair.