Heart Screens For Kids
It is often said that "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In medicine, screening is the process of identifying the presence of disease or condition in an individual who is not having signs or symptoms. In other words, screening involve findings disease in an individual who appears to be healthy.
Screening can be further characterized into two primary types: 1) Universal screening and 2) Case finding.
Universal screening involves screening all individuals for a condition or disease. For example, in the United States, all newborns are screened for phenylketonuria (PKU) with a blood test before leaving the hospital.
Case finding involves screening a certain group of people based on risk factors such as family history, exposure to certain environmental factors, or other risk factors.
At Children's Heart Specialists of Georgia, we perform case findings as well as universal screening. We believe that prevention of cardiovascular diseases begins in childhood.
Who Need To Have a Heart Screen?
If there is a “Yes” answer to any of the questions on the questionnaire below, strongly consider getting your child screened.
Has the child had chest pain, discomfort, or pressure during or after exercise?
Has the child fainted or passed out during or after exercise?
Has the child fainted or passed out with emotions (Laughing, crying, startling)?
Has the child had unusual or extreme fatigue with exercise?
Has the child had unusual or extreme shortness of breath with exercise?
Has the child mentioned/complained that his/her heart is beating fast or racing?
Has the child mentioned/complained that his/her heart is skipping a beat?
Has a doctor/medical professional restricted the child from participating in sports?
Has a doctor/medical professional diagnosed the child with heart problem?
Has a doctor/medical professional diagnosed the child with heart murmur?
Has a doctor/medical professional diagnosed the child with high blood pressure ?
Has a doctor/medical professional diagnosed the child with Kawasaki Disease?
Has a doctor/medical professional ordered a test on the child’s heart ?
Is there anyone in the child’s family who died of a “heart condition” before age 50?
Is there anyone in the child’s family who had a sudden/unexpected death before age 50?
Is there anyone in the child’s family who died in their sleep before age 50?
Is there anyone in the child’s family who died by drowning or while swimming?
Is there anyone in the child’s family who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
Is there anyone in the child’s family with unexplained fainting/passed out spells?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with a heart condition before age 50?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Long QT syndrome?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Short QT syndrome?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Brugada syndrome?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with aortic rupture?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with Congenital deafness/Deaf at birth?
Does anyone in the child’s family have Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy?
Does anyone in the child’s family have Catecholamine Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia?
Has anyone in the child’s family been diagnosed with coronary artery disease at age < 50?
Has anyone in the child’s family had positive genetic testing for a heart condition?