Causes of congenital heart disease in infants

Congenital heart disease in infants is usually caused by a combination of genetic factors, environmental influences during pregnancy, physiological abnormalities, infection during pregnancy or improper use of medication. The specific cause needs to be determined through professional prenatal examinations and postnatal diagnosis, and a treatment plan should be formulated based on the severity of the disease.

1 Influence of genetic factors

The role of heredity in congenital heart disease cannot be ignored. If one of the parents has a heart disease gene mutation, or there is a history of congenital heart disease in the family, the baby's chance of getting the disease will increase significantly. Some chromosomal abnormality syndromes, such as trisomy 21, are often accompanied by abnormal heart development. In such cases, couples planning pregnancy are advised to undergo genetic counseling and genetic testing to assess the risk and receive detailed prenatal screening during pregnancy.

2 Environmental factors during pregnancy

Environmental pollution, exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy, or bad living habits such as smoking and drinking may interfere with the normal development of the fetal heart. Toxic substances in the air, such as secondhand smoke and certain industrial pollutants, can easily affect the fetus through the mother. Pregnant women are advised to strictly avoid exposure to harmful environments, maintain good living habits, and stay away from alcohol, tobacco, and unknown drugs.

3 Infection during pregnancy and improper medication

In the early stages of pregnancy, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, when the fetus is at a critical stage of heart development, viral infection such as rubella virus may cause developmental malformations. The use of certain medications during pregnancy, such as anti-epileptic drugs or vitamin A drugs, may increase the risk of fetal disease. To reduce the risk, pregnant women are advised to have regular prenatal checkups, receive relevant vaccines such as rubella vaccine, and strictly follow the doctor's advice to choose safe medications.

4. Maternal health status

The mother's chronic diseases such as diabetes, lupus erythematosus, etc., as well as uncontrolled hyperglycemia during pregnancy, may increase the risk of heart malformations. Pathological studies have shown that hyperglycemia may directly affect embryonic tissue differentiation, leading to ventricular or atrial developmental abnormalities. It is recommended to control chronic diseases before pregnancy and monitor blood sugar during pregnancy to keep it within the normal range.

5 Unexplained pathological factors

The causes of some congenital heart diseases are still unclear, and may involve complex developmental mechanisms or environmental and genetic interactions that have not yet been discovered. Even pregnant women without obvious high-risk factors should pay attention to prenatal screening, including echocardiography. This can help detect fetal heart abnormalities as early as possible and buy time for subsequent treatment.

The causes of congenital heart disease in infants are complex and require comprehensive analysis based on individual circumstances. Families with high-risk factors can choose appropriate intervention measures under the guidance of experts, including genetic testing, pregnancy screening, etc. If diagnosed, timely medical consultation and selection of the best treatment methods such as drugs or surgery are important parts of ensuring the healthy growth of infants.