Congenital Heart Disease- Can A Baby Live A Good Life?

12 Jul, 2025

1 out of 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). It consists of wide spectrum of diseases which has varied presentation and affect the babies at different stages of life. Some present in intrauterine period and some do not present till 2nd or 3rd decade of life. Some are life threatening and few can be managed conservatively. These diseases are commonly known as HOLE IN THE HEART.

What are the symptoms of CHD ?

Children can present with:

• Difficulty in breathing/ increased respiratory rate
• Difficulty in feeding/ excessive sweating during feeding
• Failure to thrive/ failure to gain adequate weight
• Frequent lower respiratory tract infection
• Bluish discoloration of lips, tongue and nails
• Chest pain/ palpitation/ high blood pressure
• In case of these symptoms parents should consult pediatrician/ pediatric cardiologist

Can CHD be diagnosed easily?

It can be diagnosed easily with a simple non invasive test known as Echocardiography. Pediatric Cardiologist can diagnose the disease and plan the further management accordingly. It can also be diagnosed in mother’s womb by fetal echocardiography.

What is treatment of CHD?

There can be three methods of treatment

1 Medications: Many such diseases can be treated conservatively and baby can be treated with help of medications

2 Catheter based therapy – Depending upon the anatomy and physiology of disease, many such diseases can be treated with help of angiography in Cath lab without a single incision on the body. There is almost no pain and baby can be discharged very next day or even same day in few cases.

3 Surgical treatment- In many diseases, life saving surgery is required. Now a days, with increasing technology and experience of Doctors, even smallest of newborns can be cured of these diseases.

Can a baby live a good life after treatment?

In good hands and after proper treatment, > 90- 95% of these babies live a very good life with a normal life span. Babies are cured from their disease for whole life and live a healthy life like any other baby. They can go to school, participate in sports activities and live a normal and healthy life if properly treated under supervision of Pediatric Cardiac experts.

Dr Gaurav Garg

Associate Director, Pediatric Cardiology
Blk Max Hospital, Karol Bagh, New Delhi