{"id":2049,"date":"2026-07-30T06:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T06:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/?p=2049"},"modified":"2026-10-13T20:10:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T20:10:01","slug":"acquired-heart-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"Acquired Heart Diseases in Children: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Acquired heart diseases are cardiovascular disorders that develop later in life as a result of infections, rheumatic processes, or excessive immune system reactions, unlike congenital structural abnormalities. These clinical conditions arise when a heart that is anatomically healthy at the beginning becomes damaged over time by environmental or biological triggers and represent important health problems that must be addressed carefully during childhood. Accurate diagnostic methods and timely treatment protocols are the most fundamental determinants in preserving cardiac function and maintaining long-term heart health. Understanding the seriousness of these conditions and recognizing their symptoms is a critical first step in preventing future complications.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_in_Children_and_How_Do_They_Differ_From_Congenital_Heart_Diseases\" >What Are Acquired Heart Diseases in Children and How Do They Differ From Congenital Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Role_Does_Acute_Rheumatic_Fever_Play_Among_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >What Role Does Acute Rheumatic Fever Play Among Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatic Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Are_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Diagnosed_and_Treated\" >How Are Rheumatic Acquired Heart Diseases Diagnosed and Treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Is_Done_to_Prevent_Attacks_of_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Disease\" >What Is Done to Prevent Attacks of Rheumatic Acquired Heart Disease?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Effect_Does_Kawasaki_Disease_Have_Among_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >What Effect Does Kawasaki Disease Have Among Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#Which_Steps_Are_Followed_in_the_Treatment_of_Kawasaki-Related_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >Which Steps Are Followed in the Treatment of Kawasaki-Related Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Does_Inflammation_of_the_Heart_Muscle_Myocarditis_Develop_Within_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >How Does Inflammation of the Heart Muscle (Myocarditis) Develop Within Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#What_Complaints_Do_Myocarditis-Type_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Cause\" >What Complaints Do Myocarditis-Type Acquired Heart Diseases Cause?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Caused_by_Myocarditis_Treated\" >How Are Acquired Heart Diseases Caused by Myocarditis Treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#In_Whom_Does_Infective_Endocarditis_Increase_the_Risk_of_Acquired_Heart_Disease\" >In Whom Does Infective Endocarditis Increase the Risk of Acquired Heart Disease?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_in_the_Form_of_Infective_Endocarditis_Diagnosed\" >How Are Acquired Heart Diseases in the Form of Infective Endocarditis Diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Are_COVID-19_and_MIS-C_Evaluated_Within_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\" >How Are COVID-19 and MIS-C Evaluated Within Acquired Heart Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/acquired-heart-diseases\/#How_Is_the_Treatment_of_MIS-C-Related_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Managed\" >How Is the Treatment of MIS-C-Related Acquired Heart Diseases Managed?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_in_Children_and_How_Do_They_Differ_From_Congenital_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>What Are Acquired Heart Diseases in Children and How Do They Differ From Congenital Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When evaluating heart problems in childhood, we basically encounter two major groups. The first consists of congenital diseases involving anatomical abnormalities that develop while the heart is forming in the womb, such as holes between the chambers or abnormal connections between the blood vessels. The other group includes diseases that arise later as a result of inflammatory processes, rheumatic conditions, or infections, despite there being no initial problem. Because children\u2019s developing bodies and physiological responses are not simply smaller versions of those of adults, managing these acquired conditions requires much more delicate balances. A growing heart responds very differently to infections or inflammation.<\/p>\n<p>During the detection of these problems, merely listening to the complaints is not sufficient; the structure and function of the heart must be examined in detail. The methods frequently used to diagnose the disease and evaluate the condition of the heart include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Physical examination<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Electrocardiography (ECG)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Echocardiography (Echo)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Fetal echocardiography<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Cardiac catheterization (Angiography)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Based on the data obtained through these methods, treatment plans may range from medications and minimally invasive interventional procedures such as angiography to support systems in more advanced cases.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Role_Does_Acute_Rheumatic_Fever_Play_Among_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>What Role Does Acute Rheumatic Fever Play Among Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Tonsil and throat infections, which children commonly experience in daily life, may sometimes have much deeper effects than expected. Acute rheumatic fever, commonly known as rheumatic heart disease, is a condition that may develop after throat infections caused by bacteria known as group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and can affect multiple systems in the body. It is one of the leading causes of heart problems encountered at a young age, particularly in developing countries. However, the factor that damages the heart is not the microorganism itself settling in the heart.<\/p>\n<p>The process begins more as a kind of confusion within the immune system. Certain proteins found in the structure of the bacteria closely resemble the structure of the heart valves and connective tissue in humans. While the child\u2019s immune system produces powerful antibodies to destroy the microorganism in the throat, this similarity may cause it to misidentify the target and begin attacking its own heart valves. This unwanted attack leads to severe inflammation in the heart. Over time, this inflammation may turn into tissue hardening and scarring, creating the conditions for the valves to become narrowed or unable to close completely.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatic Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Symptoms of rheumatic fever do not appear immediately after a throat infection. There is generally a silent waiting period ranging from 1 to 5 weeks. After this silent period, the immune system\u2019s reactions begin to emerge. The effects of the disease on the body may vary from one child to another. Sometimes the symptoms remain very mild, while at other times a highly pronounced clinical picture may develop. The findings that families may observe or that appear during clinical evaluation are diverse.<\/p>\n<p>The most common primary symptoms during the course of the disease include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Inflammation of the heart<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Migratory joint pain<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Involuntary muscle movements<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Ring-shaped rashes<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Subcutaneous nodules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Joint pain typically affects the large joints, and while one joint begins to recover, another may start to swell. Involuntary muscle movements are a neurological finding that generally increases in girls under emotional stress and disappears during sleep.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Diagnosed_and_Treated\"><\/span>How Are Rheumatic Acquired Heart Diseases Diagnosed and Treated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Specific diagnostic criteria accepted worldwide are used to diagnose the disease. The greatest contribution of the recently updated criteria is the recognition of silent heart valve leakage, which causes no external symptoms but can be detected by ultrasound, as a major diagnostic criterion. Even if no heart murmur is heard during the child\u2019s examination, pathological valve leakage seen on echocardiography is considered a strong sign of the disease. To confirm the diagnosis, laboratory tests must first prove that the child has recently been exposed to beta-hemolytic streptococci.<\/p>\n<p>Once treatment begins, the main objective is to rapidly suppress the inflammatory reaction in the body and protect the heart. In children with only joint involvement or very mild cardiac involvement, salicylate-derived medications are generally preferred at appropriate doses together with gastric protective agents. Liver enzymes are regularly monitored during the use of these medications because the liver may become strained in some cases. If liver enzymes rise above a certain level, treatment is switched to alternative anti-inflammatory medications. In cases where the heart is more seriously affected, stronger suppressive treatment with corticosteroid-containing medications may be required.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Done_to_Prevent_Attacks_of_Rheumatic_Acquired_Heart_Disease\"><\/span>What Is Done to Prevent Attacks of Rheumatic Acquired Heart Disease?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the most important issues in this disease is preventing recurrent attacks. Each new attack carries the risk of increasing and permanently worsening the damage to the heart valves. This risk is particularly significant during the first few years after the initial attack. Therefore, preventive approaches are at least as important as the treatment itself. Once beta-hemolytic streptococci are detected in the child\u2019s throat, antibiotic treatment started within the first ten days, without waiting for the disease to affect the heart, represents the strongest first line of defense.<\/p>\n<p>Children who have experienced the disease once are placed on long-term prevention programs to prevent the microorganism from entering the body again. Regular prophylactic injections, usually administered every three or four weeks, aim to prevent the microorganism from attacking the heart again. In patients with significant residual heart damage, these preventive injections may continue for many years. Because some bacteria in the oral flora of children receiving continuous prophylactic treatment may become resistant over time, it is extremely important to provide additional cardiac protection with antibiotics from a different group before dental procedures that cause bleeding, such as tooth extraction or fillings.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Effect_Does_Kawasaki_Disease_Have_Among_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>What Effect Does Kawasaki Disease Have Among Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another important condition frequently encountered in childhood is Kawasaki disease. This condition appears as widespread inflammation of the blood vessels, particularly affecting medium-sized vessels, the coronary arteries that supply the heart, and branches of the aorta. It is generally seen in children under five years of age and is considered one of the leading causes of acquired heart damage. The course of the disease generally progresses through three distinct stages. The first weeks represent the acute stage, when the disease is most intense. In the following weeks, as the fever begins to decrease, the subacute stage starts, characterized by peeling and an increase in platelets. Finally, the findings regress during the recovery stage.<\/p>\n<p>The main findings observed during the acute stage include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Persistent high fever<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Redness of the eyes<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Bleeding of the lips<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Strawberry tongue<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Skin rash<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Swelling and redness of the hands and feet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In young infants, the disease may not always present with all of these classic symptoms. It may appear only as an unexplained fever lasting for days. Therefore, in cases of prolonged fever with no identifiable cause, the blood vessels and heart must be examined.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Steps_Are_Followed_in_the_Treatment_of_Kawasaki-Related_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>Which Steps Are Followed in the Treatment of Kawasaki-Related Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The main concern in Kawasaki disease is that inflammation may weaken the walls of the coronary arteries supplying the heart and cause balloon-like enlargements in these areas. Special scoring systems incorporating various blood tests and clinical findings are used to predict this risk. In children considered to be at high risk, stronger anti-inflammatory medications may be planned in addition to standard treatment. Millimetric measurements alone are not used to evaluate the blood vessels; vessel diameters are classified using special ratios calculated according to the child\u2019s body surface area. This makes it possible to assess the blood vessels accurately in a way that is appropriate for the child\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n<p>The primary treatment in the initial stage of the disease combines high-dose protective antibodies administered intravenously with medications that prevent blood clot formation in the vessels. This approach generally aims to achieve a rapid reduction in fever and inflammation. In some cases, the body may be resistant to this treatment. In such situations, alternative plans such as a second antibody dose or corticosteroid treatment are introduced. Even after the acute phase has resolved, blood-thinning therapy is continued for a certain period to protect the heart, and the vessels are regularly monitored with ultrasound.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Inflammation_of_the_Heart_Muscle_Myocarditis_Develop_Within_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>How Does Inflammation of the Heart Muscle (Myocarditis) Develop Within Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Myocarditis, defined as inflammation of the heart muscle, is an insidious process that may develop after an apparently ordinary viral infection. The disease generally tends to progress through three different stages. During the first few days, the virus reaches the heart muscle cells directly and attempts to cause damage. This period is immediately followed by the stage in which the immune system becomes activated to fight the virus.<\/p>\n<p>However, when the immune system is activated, similarities between certain substances in the virus and heart muscle tissue may cause defensive cells to mistakenly begin damaging the heart as well. This cross-reaction further intensifies the inflammation. If the body cannot limit the inflammation at this stage, the tissues responsible for the heart\u2019s contractile strength weaken. Over time, the heart chambers begin to enlarge and become dilated, and the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively. If this condition progresses, chronic weakness of the heart muscle may develop.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Complaints_Do_Myocarditis-Type_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Cause\"><\/span>What Complaints Do Myocarditis-Type Acquired Heart Diseases Cause?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The way myocarditis presents varies greatly according to the patient\u2019s age. Because infants cannot express themselves, the symptoms are generally more nonspecific and based on observation. In older age groups, children can describe how they feel, making direct heart-related complaints more apparent. Different warning signs may attract the attention of families in both age groups.<\/p>\n<p>The following symptoms are more commonly observed during infancy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Pale skin<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Feeding difficulties<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Excessive irritability<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Rapid breathing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In older children, the following complaints are more prominent:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Chest pain<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Palpitations<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Easy fatigability<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Fainting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The sensation of palpitations in older children results from the weakened heart muscle forcing itself to beat faster in order to pump the blood the body needs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Caused_by_Myocarditis_Treated\"><\/span>How Are Acquired Heart Diseases Caused by Myocarditis Treated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When inflammation of the heart muscle is suspected, special blood markers are first examined to determine whether heart cells have been damaged. Various blood tests are also performed to understand whether the heart is under strain. Echocardiography is used to assess the heart\u2019s contractile strength and enlargement. Today, cardiac MRI is frequently used to strengthen the diagnosis because it can show edema and damage in the heart muscle in detail.<\/p>\n<p>The basic principle of treatment is to reduce the workload on the heart and allow it to rest. Medications that help remove excess fluid from the body and dilate blood vessels are used to make it easier for the heart to pump blood. If the heart has lost its contractile strength, some commonly used pain relievers and fever-reducing medications that suppress inflammation may be removed from the treatment because they can place additional strain on the heart. Depending on the severity of the condition, intravenous immune-modulating therapies may be administered. The most important rule is not to strain the heart during recovery. For this reason, patients are strongly advised to avoid strenuous sports for a certain period even after they have recovered.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_Whom_Does_Infective_Endocarditis_Increase_the_Risk_of_Acquired_Heart_Disease\"><\/span>In Whom Does Infective Endocarditis Increase the Risk of Acquired Heart Disease?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Infection of the membrane lining the inner surface of the heart and the heart valves by bacteria is called infective endocarditis. It is quite difficult for this condition to develop in a structurally normal heart. However, if there is a congenital or acquired abnormality in the structure of the heart, blood flow creates eddies and turbulence instead of flowing smoothly through the heart. Over time, this turbulent flow may damage the smooth tissue covering the heart valves. When microorganisms entering the bloodstream from another part of the body, such as bleeding gums, reach the heart, they can easily attach to these damaged surfaces and combine with blood cells to form infected masses.<\/p>\n<p>People at high risk of endocarditis include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Patients with congenital heart disease<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Those who have undergone heart surgery<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Those with prosthetic heart valves<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Those who have had artificial blood vessels implanted<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Heart transplant patients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If the disease develops in these high-risk groups, findings such as persistent fever, enlargement of the spleen, and small hemorrhagic skin rashes may occur.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_in_the_Form_of_Infective_Endocarditis_Diagnosed\"><\/span>How Are Acquired Heart Diseases in the Form of Infective Endocarditis Diagnosed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The most critical step in diagnosing this disease is identifying the correct microorganism. For this purpose, blood cultures taken at specific intervals and from different veins before the patient\u2019s fever rises are examined carefully. Because detecting the microorganism in the bloodstream is not always easy, multiple samples are collected. In addition to echocardiography performed through the chest to visualize infected masses within the heart, transesophageal echocardiography may sometimes be used to obtain much clearer images. Treatment generally requires intravenous antibiotics administered for several weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than fighting such a difficult disease, preventing it before it develops is much more reasonable. When children in high-risk groups need to undergo dental treatment involving bleeding or a respiratory tract procedure, a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics taken orally shortly before the procedure provides considerable protection. In this way, microorganisms that may enter the bloodstream are neutralized before reaching the heart or attaching to the valve. Heart transplant recipients using immunosuppressive medications must also be included in this preventive protocol.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_COVID-19_and_MIS-C_Evaluated_Within_Acquired_Heart_Diseases\"><\/span>How Are COVID-19 and MIS-C Evaluated Within Acquired Heart Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The COVID-19 pandemic, which entered our lives in the recent past, caused us to encounter a different syndrome in children that appears weeks after the viral infection rather than during the infection itself. Known as MIS-C, this condition is characterized by an excessive and uncontrolled inflammatory response from the immune system after the virus has been overcome. Direct damage to the heart muscle, enlargement of the coronary arteries supplying the heart, and shock causing the patient\u2019s blood pressure to fall to dangerous levels represent the cardiac manifestations of this process.<\/p>\n<p>This massive inflammatory storm not only weakens the contractile strength of the heart but also adversely affects the delicate electrical conduction system responsible for maintaining a regular heartbeat. Disruption of the heart\u2019s electrical balance may occasionally trigger potentially life-threatening rhythm disturbances.<\/p>\n<p>Rhythm problems that may develop during this period include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Premature beats (extrasystoles)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Slowed conduction (bradycardia)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Heart blocks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is extremely important for children at risk of such electrical irregularities to be connected to monitors throughout their hospital stay so that every heartbeat can be closely monitored.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_the_Treatment_of_MIS-C-Related_Acquired_Heart_Diseases_Managed\"><\/span>How Is the Treatment of MIS-C-Related Acquired Heart Diseases Managed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Managing MIS-C is a multidisciplinary process that requires specialists from many different fields to work together with a shared approach. High-dose antibody therapies administered intravenously and corticosteroid medications are used simultaneously to suppress the intense underlying inflammation and calm the body. In resistant cases where the inflammation does not respond to these conventional medications, advanced biological drugs that directly target inflammatory molecules or methods that cleanse the patient\u2019s blood may be considered. Blood-thinning treatments are also initiated to reduce the risk of clot formation in the coronary arteries.<\/p>\n<p>During the intensive care management of critically ill children, various international clinical scoring systems are used to convert organ status and vital risks into numerical data and enable a clearer analysis of the process. These scoring systems combine factors such as the patient\u2019s blood pressure, laboratory values, and the degree of surgical difficulty to create a map of the current condition. Thanks to these advanced systems, potential risks are identified in advance, and the development of the safest, most accurate, and individualized follow-up strategies for each child is supported. In this way, every available resource is mobilized to help patients overcome these challenging processes with the least possible damage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acquired heart diseases are cardiovascular disorders that develop later in life as a result of infections, rheumatic processes, or excessive immune system reactions, unlike congenital structural abnormalities. These clinical conditions arise when a heart that is anatomically healthy at the beginning becomes damaged over time by environmental or biological triggers and represent important health problems [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatric-cardiology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2049"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3126,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049\/revisions\/3126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cansaran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}