Heart failure (Pediatrics - PEDS)

It is an alteration of the heart that makes it unable to pump enough oxygenated blood to cover the metabolic needs of the organs and tissues.

Among the most frequent causes are: increased bodily fluids, congenital heart disease, alteration of the valves or coronary arteries, arterial hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and infections of the myocardium or pericardium.

It manifests itself in a very nonspecific manner with feeding difficulties, nausea, fatigue, irritability, agitation, somnolence, decreased urine output, chronic cough and reduced tolerance to physical exertion. It can even lead to growth retardation. The diagnosis is clinical through questioning and physical examination. Diagnostic suspicion is confirmed with complementary tests: blood tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging.

The aim of treatment is to correct the triggering cause and treat the symptoms. Oxygen therapy, diuretic treatment, antihypertensive treatment and treatment to improve cardiac pumping force will be used.