Congenital heart defects in children

Cases of serious congenital heart defects usually cause clear signs and symptoms after the child’s birth or during the first few months of life. Some symptoms include:

• Breathing rapidly
  
• Flared nostrils
  
• Grunting when breathing
  
• Blue or pale grey skin colour
  
• Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes
  
• Shortness of breath during feedings, resulting in poor weight gain
  

On the other hand, less serious congenital heart defects cases may not be diagnosed until later in childhood, when symptoms begin to develop in older children. These symptoms include: