Many children suffer from a hole in the heart since birth, and parents may wonder when the hole in the heart closes in children?
Parents may be very concerned about their child being diagnosed with a hole in the heart at birth, and about how long it takes for it to close. In the following:
When does the hole in the heart close in children?
One of the most important questions that must be answered is when does the hole in the heart close in children? To find out the answer, read the following article:
The hole in the heart in children often closes on its own over time, however, if the hole does not close, the child may need to undergo surgical treatment to close it, it will be explained when does the hole in the heart close in children? In detail, according to the type of hole and the pathological condition, as follows:
1. The palpable foramen ovale (PFO)
Before birth, all babies have a hole, or opening, between the right and left atria of the heart. This hole is known as the fossa ovale.
The hole in the heart closes before birth in most children, but in some cases, the hole will not close until a week or even several months after the birth of the child, but the septal wall may not close on its own sometimes, and this is called a clear foramen ovale.
2. Atrial septal defect (ASD)
An atrial septal defect is a congenital heart defect, which means that it appears from birth, as it is a hole in the wall or septum that separates the atria, i.e. the upper chambers of the heart, and the size of the hole can vary.
It may close on its own or it may require a surgical procedure. As a baby''s heart develops during pregnancy, there are usually several openings in the wall between the atria, which usually close during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
But if one of these openings is not closed, a hole will remain in the septum, so it is called an atrial septal defect. This hole increases the amount of blood flowing through the lungs and over time may cause damage to the blood vessels in the lungs, which in turn causes problems in adulthood, such as: High blood pressure in the lungs, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and an increased risk of stroke.
Small atrial septal defects may never cause problems and often close during childhood. If a child has a large atrial septal defect, the doctor may recommend closing it surgically even if there are few symptoms, to prevent problems later in life.
3. Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
A ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall separating the ventricles, that is, the two lower chambers of the heart. It is in high heart pressure or low oxygen in the body.
In most children, small ventricular septal defects do not cause symptoms and may close on their own without surgery. Children with small ventricular septal defects usually do not need to restrict their activities.
While children with moderate to large ventricular septal defects are likely to take prescribed medications to help improve circulation and help the heart work more efficiently, medications alone won''t close it. In these cases, a cardiologist will recommend repairing the hole with either a catheter or heart surgery.
