Patterns of Congenital Heart Diseases at Sohag University Hospital

Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are structural or functional heart diseases that present at birth even if it is discovered later in life .

Congenital heart disease is caused by disturbance in the normal development of the heart especially during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers aren't sure about the exact cause , but they think genetics , certain medical conditions , some medications and environmental factors, such as smoking, may play a role .

CHD in many cases may be asymptomatic and discovered accidently during the routine examination or may be presented by some clinical manifestations (e.g. Cyanosis or Murmers) and /or complications (e.g. Heart Failure Manifestations : Tachycardia , Tachypnea , Dyspnea during feeding , Diaphoresis especially during feeding

,Restlessness, irritability , Hepatomegaly , and Failure To Thrive) .

Recently diagnosis of congenital heart disease is better by using advanced technology e.g. echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cardiac catheterization, angiography, and radio-active isotopes . and early diagnosis is very important as regard the manangement of the disease .

As medical care and surgical interventions have advanced over time, the treatment of many abnormalities is now available . and many infants and children with congenital heart defects are living longer and healthier lives. Many are living into adulthood, requiring ongoing, lifelong medical care for their conditions .

So information about different aspects of CHD is very important for planning health programs for long-term care and maintenance for these cases .