My 4yr old has a murmur/"click" in her heart. What could it be? HELP!?

Question

SHE IS 4 AND THE DR. TOLD US SHE HAS A MURMUR/CLICK IN HER HEART. WE GO FOR A PEDIATRIC ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ON WED. CAN A MURMUR JUST COME AT THE AGE OF 4? PLEASE HELP.THANKS

My daughter is being checked by a specialist. I wanted to see if anyone ever had a child with the same thing. Thanks for all positive responces. If your going to be negative, Please don't bother.

Answer 1

Not being able to hear the murmur, I can't tell you with absolute certainty what the source of the murmur is. I can tell you, though, the most common type of a "click" murmur is a mitral valve prolapse. Blood flow between the atrium and ventrical are controled by a valve, which opens to let blood flow into the ventrical from the atrium, and closes to stop it. Sometimes when the heart beats, the valve leaks a bit-and the result causes a :"click" sound when you listen. Most of the time it's a very small leak, and it causes absolutely no problems at all to the person. Lots of people walk around their entire lives with a leaky valve and noisy heartbeat, and they do just fine. They will do an ECG, and perhaps even monitor her heart for 24 hours, maybe an echocardiogram, just to see how bad the leak is and to determine if there is one at all. Sometimes it's just a noisy pump in there, and there are murmurs that mean nothing at all is wrong- the heart's just noisy, as all machinery is sometimes. If it is a mitral valve prolapse, most likely they will just advise you to have it checked once a year, and that any doctor or dentist needs to know before she is treated or has dental work. She would likely take an antibiotic before dental work is done, to prevent an infection from starting. Infections that get into the blood tend to attack the valves of the heart, and people with Mitral valve prolapse can be particularly sensitive to them. Since she is presumably up running around and not having any problems with passing out or turning blue in the lips, even if she has a prolapse, it's not likely a major problem. She may even outgrow it, as she is still young. As hard as it will be to stay calm about this, I hope you can relax a bit. The pediatric cardiologist will be able to answer all your questions once the tests are complete, and you will be able to relax a lot more then. Also be prepared just in case they do not hear it again. With a mild prolapse, it can come and go, it depends on how well the doctor can hear and even if it's leaking at the moment he listens. The murmur will not show up on an ECG. An electrocardiogram shows the electrical activity of the heart, not the noise it makes. The ECG will eliminate murmurs caused by a major electrical problem of the heart, and the valve prolapse is a mechanical problem. So be prepared to hear that the ECG is normal, which is probably should be. Just try to stay calm as you can in the meantime. As a parent, I know that's easier said than done, but as a nurse I can tell you what I know to be true. Most major defects of the heart would have been detected either at birth or shortly afterwards. Although your baby may have a noisy ticker, as long as she's otherwise healthy and normal, chances are good that it's nothing life threatening.

Answer 2

I have a heart murmour which was discovered when I was eight monthes old. It turned out to be a VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) which is when there is hole in the wall of the heart which separates the two ventricles. My 'hole in the heart' as it is sometimes called was very small and it hasn't affected me at all. The only difference it has made is meaning I have to take antibiotics before invasive dental treatment. Some people have bigger 'holes' and require surgery but this is a condition you are born with so I should think that if your child had big one it would definitely have been discovered when she was a baby.

There are, I think, other causes for a heart murmour but I'm afraid I don't know about them. I also don't know if a murmour can just come at the age of 4 but I do know that sometimes murmours do not become noticeable, even through a stethoscope, until the child is older.

I hope your child is ok and good luck for the future.

If you want more information on VSDs try http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11066

Answer 3

If this was present at birth and is a birth defect, the type must be determined. A pediatric cardiologist can do that by listening often. Most murmurs in four year olds are functional and not a cardiac abnormality.

Answer 4

hi. Im a Nursery Nurse, working with toddlers a protracted time 2-5. in specific circumstances toddlers cant or wont say how they experience, so as that they use (undesirable) habit rather, your daughter advance into needless to say offended, in basic terms via fact her chocolates have been taken away, and he or she lashed out to coach you this, it would not propose she would not love you. Have a word with the college to be sure how her habit is there, even ask in the event that they have 'rules' consisting of 'we are sort to people' some colleges, nursery's (like mine) do have them and you would be able to desire to have some homestead rules on your place. She is 4 and at that age, she will comprehend, actual nad incorrect. you in basic terms could desire to be company together with her whilst she reflects undesirable habit, we use concepts like outing, have a mat or area the place she will cool down so she knows self-discipline yet additionally whilst she is sturdy provide her lot of compliment and coach her you adore her, and her habit is making you chuffed.

Answer 5

murmur's can come at any age people can even be born with them.I believe it is one of her heart vals inside or out are closing and the blood finds it hard to pump though.Some can be fixs.

Answer 6

This is something that should be checked out by a qualified Doctor, and not posted on a website.

The health of your child is very important, and should only checked out by a doctor & qualified people with the equipment for the job.

You wont find piece of mind from any answers posted here, by unqualified people.

Answer 7

i was born with a heart murmur..and i'm perfectly fine.
hope all the tests turn out well for you & your little one.
take care.