5 issues to pay attention to when taking care of children with congenital heart disease

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Dang Thi Ngoc Chuong - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. The doctor has extensive experience in the diagnosis and examination of neonatal pathology - neonatal resuscitation.

Congenital heart disease is a common disease in children, the current rate of congenital heart disease is 8-10/1000 children. Caring for a child with a congenital heart defect is not an easy task. How to make patients healthy, develop normally, and be healthy enough to perform surgical interventions is a concern of many parents. The following article will provide important guidelines in caring for children with congenital heart disease to help parents care for their children properly.

When a child has a congenital heart defect, the risk of a heart infection known as endocarditis is also increased. This is a condition in which bacteria from other areas through the bloodstream enter areas in the heart. Endocarditis can cause dangerous complications, affecting the child's life. To prevent this infection, oral hygiene for children to prevent oral infections is very important.
Oral hygiene measures for children with congenital heart disease should be age-appropriate as follows:

Parents should begin dental exams for children with congenital heart disease at 6-12 months of age. Maintain oral hygiene for children by brushing their teeth when their baby teeth have just erupted, using a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. When the baby is 1 year old, wean the baby from breast-feeding (and/or bottle-feeding). When children learn to walk, parents need to keep a close eye on the child to avoid falls and trauma to the teeth.

When children are over 1 year old, parents must brush their teeth regularly after every feeding, eating, waking up in the morning and before going to bed. Choose a toothpaste that is appropriate for your child's age. Always rinse your mouth after drinking sugary drinks such as juices, syrups. However, parents must limit their children's snacking as much as possible. Regarding eating, parents should prepare children's dishes, separate meals, do not let children eat and drink with other people, even family members to avoid the risk of infection.

When children are older, about 4-5 years old, parents should teach children how to brush their own teeth. Instruct your child to brush their teeth for about two minutes, gently cleaning all surfaces of their teeth. Change your child's toothbrush every three months or sooner when the bristles are frayed.
Visit the dentist for children periodically every 6 months to have a plan to monitor and prevent oral diseases. If a child needs tooth extraction, tonsillectomy or other oral procedures, parents need to inform the doctor about the child's cardiovascular disease so that the doctor can take measures to prevent infection and avoid the risk of infection.

Children with congenital heart disease are very susceptible to malnutrition because their energy requirements are higher than normal while their absorption is poor. The reason is that the child is tired, fast breathing, so he has anorexia, his digestive system is weak. To provide nutrition for children with congenital heart disease, parents should note:
Give children milk or energy-rich foods because the needs of children with congenital heart disease are 120-170 kcal higher than normal children/ kg/day. Provide a full range of substances, iron supplements for anemia, vitamin supplements when prescribed by a doctor. Children should be given several meals a day.

For children who are still breastfed, feed them several times a day, each time with a sufficient amount. Do not let the baby suckle for a long time because the baby is easily tired and choked on milk. The mother should not breastfeed the baby while lying down, but must pick the baby up and keep the baby's head high. After nursing, the mother should burp the baby before laying down. Put the baby on his side after feeding because if the baby spits up milk, it will not spill into the nose and cause choking. For children who have already started eating solid foods, they should also eat little by little. For older children who eat rice, give them a light meal, a diet rich in vegetables and fruits to provide many vitamins and prevent constipation. Add foods rich in potassium such as bananas, oranges, papaya, coconut water, ... when children use diuretics that cause potassium loss. Older children with heart failure should limit water intake, only drinking water when thirsty. Children who are born with a heart and blood that are heavily concentrated should drink a lot of water.

Children with congenital heart disease are very susceptible to respiratory infections. To prevent these diseases, parents should give their children all vaccines according to the expanded immunization program. In addition, children under 1 year of age need the pneumococcal vaccine. The flu vaccine only needs to be given every year.
Besides, it is necessary to pay attention to keeping children warm when it is cold. Wear a mask when going out, avoid children being exposed to tobacco, polluted air, etc. Do not let children with congenital heart disease come into close contact with children with respiratory diseases.
If you see that the child is infected with symptoms of a respiratory infection such as coughing, rapid breathing, wheezing, etc., take the child immediately to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.

Practicing for children to exercise reasonably and moderately is a way of taking care of children with congenital heart disease, helping them improve their health. Most children with congenital heart disease can move and play as usual. Sports such as walking, swimming, cycling, .. are proven to be beneficial for children's health. Exercise helps children's hearts adapt, children can enjoy a normal life like friends of the same age. Children with congenital heart disease only need to avoid sports that require a lot of exertion such as football, basketball, long distance running, combat sports such as boxing, martial arts,... When going to school, parents should contact the school to ask for an exemption from activities that require a lot of effort.

In the care of children with congenital heart disease, adherence to treatment is very important. Parents need to give their children the medicine according to the doctor's instructions, not to increase or decrease the dose or stop the drug without the doctor's permission. Improper use of medicines can seriously affect the health of children. During treatment, if there are any unusual symptoms, the family should immediately notify the doctor.
Children with congenital heart disease need periodic re-examination, depending on the child's condition, the doctor will schedule a follow-up visit every month, 2 months, 3 months or 6 months. Parents need to take their children for scheduled checkups even though the child's health is normal. The follow-up examination is very important, it will help the doctor to assess the progress of the disease and adjust the treatment method to suit the child.
Especially, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor immediately if the child has unusual symptoms such as high fever, diarrhea, poor feeding or refusal to eat, stop feeding, restlessness, struggle, lethargy, rapid breathing, a lot of cough, difficulty breathing . Therefore, the care of children with heart disease should be paid attention to and periodically examined to avoid dangerous complications that can affect health.

Vinmec International General Hospital currently has all the professional conditions and technical means to effectively implement methods of treating congenital heart disease. Vinmec gathers a team of highly qualified and experienced cardiologists; modern medical equipment, up to international standards; professional service quality, helping to improve the efficiency of diagnosis, treatment and care for children with congenital heart disease effectively.