A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. A pediatric cardiologist is a physician who is specially trained in diagnosing and treating heart diseases in children. At Georgia Pediatric Cardiology, our pediatric cardiologists provide cardiac care for the following patient group:
Heart disease in children can be divided into two categories:
Congenital heart diseases are diseases that children are born with. Congenital heart diseases occur in 1% of the general population. They may or may not be hereditary. They are usually not caused by high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or any of the risk factors that predispose adults to heart diseases. They are diverse in occurrences and complexity. They include:
Acquired heart diseases are diseases that develop after birth. They include:
Children with congenital and acquired heart diseases require special treatment and attention. Listed below are some the recommended behavioral and medical care for children affected by congenital and acquired heart diseases.
Children with certain congenital and acquired heart disease may be at risk for endocarditis, an infection in the lining of the heart. Endocarditis is caused by bacteria that are found in the mouth, the lining of the gastrointestinal and the genital tracts. Endocarditis can be prevented by taking antibiotics (Penniciliins) one hour before procedures for which endocarditis prophylaxis is indicated. We will discuss with you whether your child needs endocarditis prophylaxis or not.
Children with congenital heart disease are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and to live a healthy lifestyle. Patients who are taking certain medications such as warfarin (coumadin) may be restricted from certain food.
Physical activities is strongly encouraged for all patients. However, patients with certain heart conditions may be restricted from certain kind of activities. We will review with you exercise restrictions.
Children with congenital and acquired heart diseases need proper dental care and regular visit to their dentists. Poor dental care can lead to complications such as endocarditis.
Although viral infections and other benign conditions are the leading causes of fever in children, however, fever in children with congenital heart disease may sometimes herald more serious conditions. Parents need to check with their child's regular pediatrician for appropriate management.
We encourage proper hydration in children with congenital and acquired heart diseases. Children with certain conditions such as neurocardiac syncope (fainting), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and complex congenital heart defects such as tetralogy of Fallot need to be properly hydrated all the time.
Proper weight gain in the first three years is crucial in children with congenital heart diseases. Failure to thrive is a medical term which is used when a child fails to gain weight appropriately. To prevent failure to thrive, a child's diet may be change to provide maximum calories. Occasionally, some children with congenital and acquired heart diseases may need early surgery because of failure to thrive.
Heart diseases is one of the leading causes of death in children. Advances in medicine and in pediatric cardiology has led to curative or palliative treatment for many congenital or acquired heart diseases which were once considered fatal. Moreover, various childhood heart diseases which previously required extensive surgical procedures are now treated with cardiac catheterizations or minimally invasive surgical procedures. This has led to a significant decrease in both mortality and morbidity in children with congenital or acquired heart diseases. The majority of children with heart diseases are surviving into adulthood with very productive lives.
Recent advances in cardiac imaging and laboratory analysis has allowed pediatric cardiologists to diagnose congenital or acquired heart diseases at its earliest stages, including in-utero diagnoses. Early diagnoses and early treatment have significantly decreased the mortality and morbidity of heart diseases in children.
At Georgia Pediatric Cardiology, our physicians and staff are using cutting-edge technology to provide optimal care for all children with heart diseases.
Blood pressure is the force of blood that the heart eject against the walls of the arteries as blood travels through the body. Chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) is a well-known risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and kidney failure. Although most of these complications are usually seen in adults, long-term studies have shown children with hypertension are at higher risk for developing these complications during adulthood. Moreover, hypertension is usually found in combination with other conditions that increase the risk for development of cardiovascular problems. These conditions include obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
In children, hypertension is defined as a systolic (top number) or diastolic (bottom number) above the 95th percentile for the child's age, sex and height. Over the past few decades, hypertension has become more prevalent in the United States.
In most instances, no causes of high blood pressure can be identified. However, certain abnormalities of the heart, the kidneys, and the endocrine glands are some of the causes of high blood pressure. A number of medications can cause high blood pressure
High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer" because it usually has no signs or symptoms. Although most children with high blood pressure often have no symptoms, some children may complain of headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, malaise, fatigue, and visual disturbances.
Although most cases of high blood pressure in children can be treated with behavioral changes. The American Heart Association recommends the following behavioral treatment for hypertension:
For more questions please feel free to call us at 678-289-1988.
Recent advances in echocardiography (ultrasound) has allowed physicians to accurately detect congenital heart disease while the baby is still inside the womb. The detection of congenital heart disease in utero helps prevent the complications of undiagnosed congenital heart disease and help save lives. Once a fetus is diagnosed with congenital heart disease, our physicians and staff at Georgia Pediatric Cardiology provide medical treatment in utero for affected fetuses and make arrangements for the special cardiac card that the baby will need after birth. We work together with obstetricians, perinatologists, and pediatric cardiac surgeons to ensure optimal pre-natal and post-natal medical and surgical care.
Fetal echocardiography is a specific ultrasound test performed during pregnancy to evaluate the heart of the baby. Ituses ultrasound equipment similar to the one which was used by your obstetrician for your first ultrasound except the study provides a detail evaluation o f the heart. A small probe called a transducer (similar to a microphone) is placed on the mother's abdomen and ultrasound images of the baby’s heart are obtained. Fetal echocardiography assesses the heart's structures and function. Fetal echocardiographies are performed by doctors who have special training in heart problems in babies (Pediatric cardiologists).
Although fetal echocardiography can detect most congential heart defects, however, there are subtle defects that may not be detected. Remember, a fetal echocardiogram is examining a heart that may be as small as a grape. The images may not be as clear as they will be once the baby is born. Any diagonosis of congenital heart disease in-utero must be confirmed once the baby is born.
It is not necessary for all pregnancies to receive a fetal echocardiogram. The general prenatal ultrasound which is done early in pregnancy can provide information about the fetal heart and its development.has developed Most fetuses do not require any further testing. Situations in which a fetal echocardiogram may be necessary include, but are not limited to, the following:
It is our pleasure to welcome you to the website of Georgia Pediatric Cardiology. With several locations in the metro Atlanta area, we provide complete cardiac care for all children. We also provide care for adults with congenital heart diseases.
read more...What is a Pediatric Cardiologist?
Special Care
for the Child
with Heart
Disease
Advances in
Pediatric
Cardiology
High Blood
Pressure in
Children
Prenatal Diagnosis of
Congenital Heart Diseases
New Patient (English)
New Patient (Espanol)
Stress Test Info for Parents
Stress Test Consent
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Georgia Pediatric Cardiology
1050 Eagles Landing Parkway · Suite 202 · Stockbridge, GA 30281
Tel# 678-289-1988 · Fax# 678-289-1512
www.yourchildsheart.com
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