D.B.
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Hi, Ladies! I just took my son in for his 3yo well check. His doctor found a heart murmur that has not been present before. He told me not to worry unless I noticed symptoms like lips turning blue while playing, or him not being able to keep up while playing with friends, etc. He says it is somewhat common in children this age while they are growing & that it may go away by the time my son is 5 or 6. I'm not concerned, but not sure if I should be. Has anyone else heard of heart murmurs in preschool age kids? If so, please tell me what your experience was. Thanks!
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Yes. Our older daughter's pediatrician heard a slight murmur during her 2-year old well child visit. He sent us to a Pediatric Cardiologist to have it checked out. The Cardiologist said it was nothing to worry about, and that it would disappear as she grew. Sure enough, it has disappeared (she is turning 9 this month). I know it's scary to get news like that, but from what I was told, it's really very common, and typically not dangerous. If you are concerned, ask for a referral to a Ped Cardiologist to put your mind at ease.
When my son was 3, the pediatrician heard a heart murmur and referred us to a cardiologist. The cardiologist found a hole in his heart, and he had surgery to correct it at age 4. He has to go back to the cardiologist once every 3 years and is doing great. He never had any obvious symptoms but had always been underweight, often sick with colds, and totally not interested in sports. His lips always did and still do turn blue when he goes swimming, but the doctors said this is because he's thin, not because of the heart condition.
I have 4 kids and two of the four have had heart murmurs at preschool age. One has outgrown it and the other was diagnosed at 2 and now at 3 the doc did not detect it. He said the same thing your doc did about it being somewhat normal for this age. I wouldn't worry about it.
A., it is probably nothing to worry about at all. But do check with a pediatric cardiologist at some point down the road to make sure it has closed.
I had a stroke because I did not know I had a hole in my heart. It would not have been a problem, if I had known it was there and not done the things you are not supposed to do if you have a murmur.
Mine did, he had a small hole in his heart, but it was found at birth. It's very common and has healed up by the time he was 3. Some murmurs are totally normal and undisruptive, like my husband's... others need to be watched more carefully and can be problematic. You won't know until you have it thoroughly checked. I would get a referral to a pediatric cardiologist, just to be on the safe side.
My 6 and 7 year olds were diagnosed with heart murmurs at that age... they both grew out of them... don't fret!! :)
