Heart failure (Paediatrics)

It is a heart disorder that makes it impossible to pump enough oxygenated blood to cover the metabolic needs of the organs and tissues.

Between the most common, it is worth mentioning: an increase in body fluids, congenital heart diseases, abnormalities in the cardiac valves or coronary arteries, arterial hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and myocardial or pericardial infections.

It manifests in a very non-specific way with: difficulty eating, nausea, fatigue, irritability, agitation, drowsiness, passing less urine than normal, a chronic cough, and a lower tolerance to physical exercise. It can even go to the extent of causing growth retardation. Diagnosis is clinical through questioning and physical exploration. The suspected diagnosis is confirmed with additional tests: blood tests, a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, an MRI scan.

The treatment's goal is to correct the triggering cause and address the symptoms. Oxygen therapy as well as cirretic, hypertensive, and heart-pumping treatments for strength will be used.