ACQUIRED AND GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN

Types of acquired heart disease among children include: cardiomyopathy, endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, Kawasaki disease, arrhythmia, hypertension, rheumatic fever, and obesity. These are diseases that occur after birth, as opposed to congenital heart disease, which is present at birth. Acquired heart disease in children constitutes diagnoses which do not occur in adults (eg. Kawasaki disease), or which may be similar to conditions present in adolescents and adult patients (eg. dilated cardiomyopathy). Most frequently diagnosed are rheumatic fever and Kawasaki disease. Children who are diagnosed and treated for congenital heart disease are at higher risk of developing endocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Although heart disease in childhood has a complex aetiology – and is often caused by unknown factors – a wide palette of diagnostic tests is required to determine its cause, including: genetic, echocardiography, X-ray, MRI, CT, heart catheterisation, endomyocardial biopsy, and nuclear studies. Pathological process directly affects cardiac structures, causing myocardial dysfunction. If myocardinal function is suspected, it is necessary to take a detailed history of the disease, along with a physical examination, and apply a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm in order to stabilise a haemodynamically compromised patient with acquired heart disease.