Mitral Valve Prolapse is a special type of heart valve problem. In this condition when the valve closes, it actually passes beyond the closure line into the left atrium. This causes the valve to leak.
People with Marfan Syndrome can suffer from leaking of the heart valves, Mitral Valve Prolapse. The leaks are often mild and require no treatment but sometimes surgery is necessary.
Children with Mitral Valve Prolapse are sometimes said to be more prone to dysautonomia - palpitations, sweating and feeling faint.
If the valve prolapses badly it can usually be repaired although sometime replacement is necessary.
Endocarditis prophylaxis on at risk occasions is necessary for life.
Children with congenital heart disease are at an increased risk of having a heart infection. Whilst this is rare the chances of it occurring can be reduced by taking precautions.
Infections in the heart can occur for no apparent reason but are more common if the teeth are rotten. Germs spread into the blood stream and infect the heart. Good dental hygiene is therefore important as are regular visits to the dentist.
If dental treatment is required then some procedures can cause germs to spill into the blood and infect the heart.
It is therefore important that the dentist is informed about the heart condition before treatment. The usual method of avoiding this problem is to give the patient a single dose of antibiotics one hour prior to the treatment to kill any germs beforehand.
Children who have Mitral Valve Prolapse when associated with rhythm problems, collapse with exercise, or a family history of sudden death are restricted to light exercise (like golf or cricket).
Exercise is important even in those with heart disease. It improves the heart function and general sense of well being. It is associated with increased life expectancy and a reduced risk of heart disease in later life. In addition physical activity helps with controlling weight and reducing blood pressure.
There are different types of exercise. In static exercise the muscles contract but there is little joint movement, e.g. weight lifting. In dynamic exercise the muscles contract and also move the joints eg running. Each places a different stress on the body and cardiovascular system. In general most types of sports are a mix of the two.
Children usually take part in more rigorous exercise at school as they grow older. In Singapore, physical education (PE) tends to teach games skills rather than competitive sports. However pupils may take sport for their co-curricular activities (CCA) where training is more intense and competitive. Training for the NAPFA test is also intensive, and some pupils with heart problems may have difficulty with the 2.4km run, as they often perform less well at endurance type activities.
Parents should seek the advice of their own doctor when deciding how much exercise, and to what level is safe. This is particularly as there are no published guidelines for activity levels in children.
Most children with heart disease can have all the normal vaccinations at the appropriate time. However some children with an immune deficiency (DiGeorge syndrome or an isomerism) and those who are receiving immunosuppression - for example following transplantation require a different vaccination schedule.
Before travelling anywhere unusual or a long distance make sure that your child has:
Those with cyanotic heart disease ("blue" due to reduced oxygen in the blood) can still travel, but aircraft at altitude have less oxygen in the air than at ground level, so the blueness may be more apparent. This does not usually cause symptoms, but if necessary airlines can arrange for additional oxygen to be available on the aircraft.
For long aircraft flights, it is sensible to use the support stockings and take aspirin or an equivalent unless your doctor advises against it.
Special diets are not normally necessary for those with heart disease. As with everyone, it is important to have a balanced diet and not to eat to excess. It is however important to maintain a normal weight. Excess weight means more work for the heart.
Most children with heart disease are no more prone to infections than any other children. Some, however are likely to get chest infections, particularly those with holes in the heart (ASD, VSD, PDA).
In addition, some heart diseases are also associated with an immune deficiency, and infections therefore are more common. The majority of childhood infections are viruses and get better without antibiotics. In any case of doubt, professional medical help should be sought and the doctor will decide if antibiotics are necessary.
Most children with heart disease do not require medication. Some however need them to:
The majority of these medicine have been used for many years and are very safe but like all drugs side effects may occur - especially if there is another illness or a change in other medication. If unusual symptoms or side-effects occur whilst on medication it is important to inform the doctor immediately.
Click here to access our Find A Doctor directory for a list of doctors treating this condition across our NUHS institutions.
