Congenital heart disease: when is the ideal time for CHD diagnosis in children?

Congenital heart defects are becoming increasingly common. Experts talk about the right stage to get it checked and diagnosed.

The ideal stage for diagnosing congenital heart disease in children is when they are in the fetal form, especially within 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, experts said Wednesday. CHD is a condition that is present from birth and is the most common birth defect. It affects eight in every thousand infants born annually in India.

According to doctors at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, only 10 percent of those diagnosed with CHD receive required treatment on time.

“During the period between 16 and 20 weeks (approximately 4 and a half months) of pregnancy, advanced ultrasound allows healthcare professionals to thoroughly examine the structure and function of the developing heart and detect heart malformations,” said Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, HoD, Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Hospital.

“This period provides parents with the necessary information to make choices about their pregnancy and to ensure timely medical intervention if necessary after the baby is born,” he added.

Ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect (commonly called 'hole in the heart') are the most common forms of congenital heart defects, while Tetralogy of Fallot predominates in infants presenting with cyanosis (oxygen deficiency).

According to experts, regular prenatal checkups with obstetricians equipped with advanced imaging technologies can help identify the fetuses with suspected coronary artery disease.

Using the latest advances, the experts say CHD can be diagnosed after birth using 'echocardiography' and may sometimes require advanced imaging techniques such as CT scan and MRI.

“CHD diagnosed after birth, the timing of treatment depends on the nature and severity of the heart problems encountered. The critical ones require attention and treatment at birth. Some of the less critical cases can be postponed for months or even a few years,” said Dr Sushil Azad, chief consultant pediatric cardiology at Amrita Hospital.

Azad also mentioned that treatment options range from surgical to non-surgical therapy depending on the nature of the disease. Treatment options for children with CHD include medication management, catheter-based interventions, and open-heart surgical procedures.