How long does it take for a baby to develop symptoms of ventricular septal defect?

The onset of symptoms of ventricular septal defect in infants varies depending on the size and location of the defect. Mild defects may be asymptomatic or appear later, while severe defects usually develop symptoms within a few weeks to months after birth. Treatments include medication, interventional therapy, and surgery.

1. Babies with smaller defects or those in non-critical areas may have no obvious symptoms, and only have heart murmurs found during physical examinations. Such babies usually do not need immediate treatment, but they need regular follow-up to observe whether the defect heals or progresses. Parents are advised to take their children for regular cardiac ultrasound examinations to monitor changes in the defect.

2. Infants with moderate defects may experience mild symptoms within a few weeks to months after birth, such as feeding difficulties, slow weight gain, and shortness of breath. At this time, drug treatment can be considered, such as diuretics to reduce the burden on the heart and cardiotonic drugs to enhance myocardial contractility. At the same time, attention should be paid to preventing respiratory infections to avoid increasing the burden on the heart.

3. Infants with severe defects may develop obvious symptoms within a few weeks after birth, such as severe dyspnea, frequent respiratory infections, cyanosis, etc. Such infants need interventional treatment or surgical treatment as soon as possible. Interventional treatment uses a catheter to block the defect, which is less invasive and has a quick recovery; surgical treatment requires thoracotomy to repair the defect, which is suitable for complex cases. Heart function needs to be closely monitored after surgery to prevent complications.

The onset and severity of symptoms of ventricular septal defect in infants vary from person to person. Parents should closely monitor the growth and development of their infants and conduct regular heart examinations. If any abnormality is found, seek medical attention in a timely manner and choose appropriate treatment methods based on the defect to ensure the healthy growth of the infant.