Heart

What is a congenital heart defect?
If a baby stays blue after birth, he may have a congenital heart defect (CHD) and will need immediate medical attention.

Signs and symptoms of CHD
The type and severity of the actual heart defect will determine what symptoms and signs the child displays.

CHD not a problem before birth
Many people wonder why congenital heart defects (CHD) only becomes apparent at birth and not before the baby is born.

What causes CHD?
There are several different causes of congenital heart defects – some are unknown, others are chromosomal, and some are environmental.

CHD - prevalence and diagnosis
Congenital heart defect is the commonest form of major birth defects, affecting 6-8/1000 live births. Most (up to 60%) of babies with CHD are diagnosed by one month of age.