What causes ventricular septal defect in infants?

The causes of ventricular septal defect in infants may include genetic factors, maternal environmental influences, fetal developmental abnormalities and other disease-related factors, which require evaluation and intervention based on specific circumstances. Ventricular septal defect is a type of congenital heart disease, and the degree of harm depends on the size of the defect and the accompanying symptoms.

1. Genetic factors

Genetics plays an important role in the occurrence of congenital heart disease. If someone in the family has heart defects, especially parents, siblings and other immediate relatives, the likelihood of the baby having ventricular septal defect will increase significantly. Some genetic syndromes such as Down syndrome and Ellis-Van Kreveld syndrome are also clearly associated with ventricular septal defect. For high-risk families planning pregnancy, genetic counseling can be performed to assess the chances of the newborn being sick.

2 Maternal factors

The living environment and health status of pregnant women can also affect the development of the fetal heart. For example, exposure to toxic chemicals such as chemical products containing formaldehyde, drug abuse, alcoholism, smoking, and infection with certain infectious diseases such as rubella in early pregnancy may damage the normal development of the fetus' organs. Malnutrition during pregnancy, folic acid deficiency, or chronic diseases such as diabetes and lupus erythematosus are considered to be important factors in the development of fetal heart disease.

3 Abnormal fetal development

The development of the fetal heart is mainly completed in the first 8 weeks of embryo formation. If the heart septal tissue fails to completely merge during this stage due to insufficient blood supply or external stimulation such as maternal hyperthermia or radiation exposure, ventricular septal defect may form. This developmental abnormality is often related to the combined effects of the fetal growth environment and genetic basis.

4Related to other diseases

In addition to the direct causes mentioned above, ventricular septal defects may also occur with certain syndromes or developmental abnormalities of other organs. For example, in some complex congenital heart diseases, ventricular septal defects may be part of the overall lesion. Its specific manifestations need to be diagnosed by echocardiography or cardiac catheterization.

When a baby is found to have a ventricular septal defect, parents should take the child to the hospital for a detailed examination as soon as possible. Small defects may gradually close with growth, while larger defects usually require medical intervention, which can be treated with medication, interventional closure, or surgery. After surgery, attention should be paid to wound care, and heart function should be checked regularly to assess the prognosis. Ensuring the health of mother and baby during pregnancy and avoiding bad living habits are important measures to prevent this disease.

If your baby is suspected to have symptoms of ventricular septal defect or has been diagnosed, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and work with a cardiologist to make scientific decisions to maximize the healthy development of your baby.