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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Although the depression of the breastbone is often apparent shortly after birth, most children with pectus excavatum don't begin to experience symptoms until early adolescence. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Decreased exercise tolerance
- Heart palpitations
- Recurrent respiratory infections
- Wheezing or coughing
- Heart murmur
- Fatigue
References
- Boas SR. Skeletal diseases influencing pulmonary function. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119560986-3/801968939/1608/977.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50418-7--subchapter1_7989. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- Kelly RE, et al. Surgical repair of pectus excavatum markedly improves body image and perceived ability for physical activity: Multicenter study. Pediatrics. 2008;122;1218.
- Pectus excavatum. The American Pediatric Surgical Association. http://www.eapsa.org/parents/resources/pectus_excav.cfm. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- What is Marfan syndrome? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/mar/mar_whatis.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- What is scoliosis? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Scoliosis/scoliosis_ff.asp. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- What is mitral valve prolapse? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/mvp/mvp_whatis.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- Chest X-ray (chest radiography). American College of Radiology. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- CT: Chest. American College of Radiology. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=chestct. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- What is an electrocardiogram? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ekg/ekg_what.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- What is echocardiography? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/echo/echo_whatis.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2009.
- Malek MH, et al. Cardiovascular function following surgical repair of pectus excavatum: A meta-analysis. Chest. 2006;130:506.
- Johnson JN, et al. Cardiorespiratory function after operation for pectus excavatum. Journal of Pediatrics. 2008;153:359.
