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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSerious congenital heart defects usually become evident during the first few hours, days, weeks and months of life. Signs and symptoms could include:
- Loss of healthy skin color
- Pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis)
- Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes
- Shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain
Less-serious congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects in children age 3 and older include:
- Easily becoming short of breath during exercise or activity
- Easily tiring during exercise or activity
- Built-up fluid in the heart or lungs
- Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet
When to see a doctor
Serious congenital heart defects are often diagnosed before or soon after your child is born. If you notice that your baby has any of the symptoms above, call your child's doctor.
If your child has any of the symptoms of less-serious heart defects as he or she grows, call your child's doctor. Your child's doctor can let you know if your child's symptoms are due to a heart defect or another medical condition.
You may feel alarmed if you learn your child has a heart murmur, which is a sound that occurs when blood flows through your child's heart abnormally. Many heart murmurs are innocent, meaning the murmur isn't dangerous to your child's health. Some murmurs, however, may mean blood is flowing through your child's heart abnormally because he or she has a heart defect.
- Congenital heart defects. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_all.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2008.
- Congenital heart defects in children fact sheet. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=12012. Accessed Sept. 8, 2008.
- Diabetes and pregnancy frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/diabetespregnancyfaqs.htm#whatcanhappentoababy. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
