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Heart failure or congestive heart failure, as it is also referred to, is a condition that develops when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Though such a poorly functioning heart keeps pumping oxygenated blood, in comparison to a healthy heart, it performs inefficiently.

Causes

The main reason for heart failure in children is congenital heart defects. Heart defects present at birth that may lead to congestive heart failure include:

• Transposition of the arteries
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Aortic or mitral valve disease

Other possible causes for heart failure in children may include:

• A condition known as systemic right ventricle may cause a heart failure. In this condition, the right ventricle of the heart is the only operational ventricle or when the right and left ventricles are transposed. When this happens the heart is unable to meet the demands of the body for oxygenated blood.
• Enlargement of the heart can lead to too much volume in the circulatory system and insufficient oxygenated blood being pumped.
• Infections such as rheumatic fever that may cause heart disease
• Endocarditis or an infection of the heart muscles and valves
• Malfunction of the heart valves
• Irregular heartbeat
• Cardiomyopathy or disease of the heart muscles
• Lung disease or lung damage
• Anemia
• Post surgery complications such as excessive bleeding or infections

Symptoms

Heart failure can affect the right or left side of the heart or in some cases, both sides of the heart. The symptoms of heart failure depend on whether the left or the right side of the heart is affected. For example, if the right side of the heart functions poorly, symptoms may include swelling of the feet, ankles, abdomen and eyelids, caused die to fluid retention and congestion in the veins. When the left side of the heart fails to perform properly, blood builds up in the lungs and can cause symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, fatigue and stunted growth in children.

Other common symptoms of heart failure include:

• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Sleepiness (may constantly fall asleep during the day)
• A loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight gain or an inability to gain weight
• Excessive sweating
• Distension of the abdomen
• Pain in the area of the liver
• Skin that may be cold and clammy to touch or warm and flushed

Symptoms can differ from child to child and may vary in terms of severity. Since many of the above symptoms can be confused for other illnesses and medical conditions, it is advisable to consult with a doctor and receive a proper diagnosis at the earliest.

Diagnosis and Tests

After a detailed inspection of the child's medical history and a physical examination, tests such as blood tests, urine tests, chest x-rays, ECG or EKGs may be required in order to diagnose the condition. A procedure known as cardiac catheterization that involves the insertion of a catheter into the heart to determine the cause and extent of heart failure may also be recommended.

Treatment

The type of treatment for heart failure in children usually will depend on the child's age, severity of the condition and overall health. If the cause of the heart failure is due to a congenital heart defect, surgery may be necessary. Some symptoms of heart failure may respond to medications though the efficacy of such drugs usually fades over time. Medications used to treat heart failure in children may include drugs such as diuretics to reduce fluid retentions, digoxin to strengthen the heart muscles, potassium supplements to balance out electrolyte levels in the blood, ACE inhibitors to improve the heart's pumping ability and beta-blockers to stabilize blood pressure.

References

• http://www.chop.edu/healthinfo/heart-failure.html