1. What is a congenital heart disease? 
Congenital heart disease describes a condition where a baby is born with a heart abnormality. These can range from serious conditions that require immediate treatment in the newborn period, to mild forms that can resolve on their own.

2. What are the causes of congenital or acquired heart diseases?
While research is ongoing, the causes of congenital heart diseases are unknown in most cases. Genetic factors, environmental factors, lifestyle, viral infections like rubella, excessive alcohol use or illicit drug use during pregnancy, exposure to certain anticonvulsant or dermatological drugs during pregnancy can contribute. Genetic conditions like Down syndrome can affect multiple organs and can be the cause of congenital heart diseases.

3. How can you tell if your child has a congenital heart disease?
Symptoms of congenital heart diseases include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, developmental delay, underdevelopment of muscles and limbs, susceptibility to pneumonia, slow growth, chest pain, feeling of dizziness, fainting, and signs of heart failure. Sometimes there may be no symptoms at all.

4. How common is congenital heart disease?
In the United States, one in every 100 babies is born with a heart defect. The most common birth defect alone is congenital heart disease.

5. What is pediatric cardiology?
Pediatric cardiology deals with heart problems in infants (including unborn babies), children, and adolescents. These problems include structural, functional, and rhythm problems. The most common of all heart problems in children are congenital heart defects (those present at birth). In the United States, 30-35 thousand children are affected each year. As the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease requires special experience, an adult with congenital heart disease may also be cared for by a pediatric cardiologist.

6. What is a heart murmur?
A heart murmur is an extra sound we hear when we listen to the heart. There are many types. Many structural heart anomalies cause a specific type of murmur. Not every murmur heard in children is a sign of a heart problem. A heart murmur could also be a completely normal sound.

7. What kind of tests will my child need after examination by a pediatric cardiologist?
Depending on the type of problem, sometimes just a detailed history and physical examination may be sufficient to make a diagnosis. In addition to routine tests such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, chest X-rays, special tests such as exercise tests, 24-hour heart rhythm recording, MRI, and cardiac catheterization may be performed.

8. What is an echocardiogram?
It is a type of ultrasound that shows the structure and function of the heart.

9. What is cardiac catheterization?
It is an invasive test where a specially trained cardiologist inserts a thin, flexible catheter into a vessel and manipulates it inside the heart. It is performed using a special X-ray machine. Catheterization helps the cardiologist get information about pressures, blood and oxygen levels, and blood flows in the heart and vessels.

10. Can a baby's heart problems be diagnosed before birth?
Fetal echocardiograms can be performed to evaluate the baby's heart in the womb for women who are found to have a problem or are at risk by an obstetrician. Your obstetrician can inform you about whether a fetal echocardiogram is necessary.

11. Can minor invasive heart surgery be performed on children?
In most cases, open-heart surgery is successfully performed through a small incision in the chest. This approach speeds up recovery and leaves behind a small scar tissue. The use of these techniques depends on the child's specific problem.

12. Can my child develop other types of heart problems even if he was not born with congenital heart disease?
There are many acquired heart diseases that affect children. Most of these involve inflammatory diseases such as Kawasaki disease, acute rheumatic fever, myocarditis (a viral infection). These conditions are rare and require consultation with a pediatric cardiologist if suspected by a pediatrician. Sometimes children may have rhythm disorders that can cause a sensation of abnormal beat or palpitations. An arrhythmia is a disorder that affects the heart rhythm. If arrhythmia is suspected, your child should be referred to a pediatric cardiologist.