According to the AAP, heart murmurs are a concern when they occur very early at birth or during the first 6 months of life. These murmurs, common in premature babies, are not innocent, and most likely will require the attention of a pediatric cardiologist immediately.

When should I worry about a heart murmur in an infant?

According to the AAP, heart murmurs are a concern when they occur very early at birth or during the first 6 months of life. These murmurs, common in premature babies, are not innocent, and most likely will require the attention of a pediatric cardiologist immediately.

Can a heart murmur be benign?

Heart murmurs can be harmless (innocent) or abnormal. An innocent heart murmur is not a sign of heart disease and doesn’t need treatment. Abnormal heart murmurs require follow-up testing to determine the cause. Treatment is directed at the cause of your abnormal heart murmur.

How common is a benign heart murmur?

Virtually all children have a heart murmur during their childhood. Less than 1% of murmurs are pathological in children. Innocent/functional heart murmur is the most common type of heart murmur.

Do baby heart murmurs go away?

Many heart murmurs are normal, extra sounds in children with strong, healthy hearts. These children don’t need treatment. Some of these heart murmurs may go away on their own with time. If the murmur is from a congenital heart defect, treatment may include medicine, procedures, or surgery.

Why do newborns have heart murmurs?

What causes a murmur? In newborn babies murmurs may be due to the changes that occur in blood circulation at birth from using the mother’s oxygen from the placenta to breathing for themselves outside. These are innocent murmurs. The Incidence of Congenital Heart Disease is 6 – 9 in 1000 live births.

Can a benign heart murmur change?

Most innocent murmurs disappear when a child reaches adulthood, but some adults still have them. When a child’s heart rate changes, such as during exercise, excitement or fear, the innocent murmur may become louder or softer.

Is it common for babies to have heart murmurs?

Parents might worry if they’re told that their child has a heart murmur. But heart murmurs are very common, and many kids are found to have one at some point. Most murmurs are not a cause for concern and won’t affect a child’s health at all.

What does a heart murmur mean in a child?

A heart murmur describes an extra sound heard in addition to the “lub-dub.” Sometimes these extra sounds are simply the sound of normal blood flow moving through a normal heart. Other times, a murmur may be a sign of a heart problem.

What causes a heart murmur in newborns?

Heart murmurs are a common finding in infants and children and mostly originate from normal flow patterns with no structural or anatomic abnormalities of the heart or vessels and are referred to as innocent, physiological or normal murmurs; conversely, murmur may be created by abnormal flow patterns in the heart and …

What causes a heart murmur in baby?

Abnormal heart murmurs typically result from a heart condition that your child is born with (congenital heart disease), which affects the heart’s structure. Sometimes, an abnormal heart murmur can develop after an infection or other condition. This type of murmur is called acquired.

Can a child outgrow a normal heart murmur?

Yes. If a child has a normal, or “innocent,” heart murmur, the heart is normal. After a few years, the murmur may no longer be audible as the child’s chest wall naturally thickens and the heart and vessels grow.

How dangerous are heart murmurs?

Functional heart murmur. Many heart murmurs are harmless and referred to as innocent or functional.

  • Congenital heart murmurs in newborns. Congenital heart murmurs are heard in the newborn.
  • Heart valve abnormalities. Abnormalities of the valves of the heart may cause a heart murmur.

    • Can a heart murmur go away on its own?

    The good news is that many heart murmurs aren’t dangerous. In fact, many heart murmurs go away on their own over a few months or years. Whether you need treatment for your heart murmur will depend on what type of murmur you have.

    What causes a newborn heart murmur?

    What causes the murmur? It is common for newborn babies to have heart murmurs in the first days of life (one study noted murmurs in 60% of newborn babies). It can be caused by fast blood flow through the heart, which is normal for babies. The blood circulation system in the baby whilst inside the womb is different from the circulation