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Message: <blockquote data-quote="NeedyHearts" data-source="post: 6106058" data-attributes="member: 249163">Examinations and Test for detectingMany congenital heart defects are found within the first month after a baby is born. To diagnose a heart defect, a doctor will ask certain questions about the baby's symptoms, appetite, and other habits and give the baby a physical exam. An echocardiogram and possibly a heart catheterization (angiogram) may be needed. While details of possible questions, physical exam are explained here echocardiogram and heart catheterization are explained in separate posts. This would help parents prepare before seeing doctor.  When determining whether baby has a congenital heart defect, the health professional will ask questions about baby's medical history and parents medical history. These may include the following:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What symptoms does your baby have? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When are symptoms usually present? Symptoms may be present only when your baby is eating or crying. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Has your baby been less active than usual? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How is your baby's appetite? How much does your baby usually eat and drink? Describe a typical feeding. Does he or she have trouble feeding or tire easily while feeding? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Has your baby been urinating less often than usual? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Does your baby's color change when crying? If so, does the color quickly return to normal after crying stops? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What position does he or she seem most comfortable in when resting? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Has your baby ever passed out? If the child is older, has he or she ever complained of the heart beating funny? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Did you have or were you exposed to rubella (German measles) or any other infections during your pregnancy? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Did you take any medicines, use illegal drugs, or drink alcohol during your pregnancy? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do you have a family history of congenital heart defects? </li> </ul>During a physical exam for a congenital heart defect, the health professional will:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Check your child's weight and length. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Check your child's heart rate and blood pressure. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Listen to your child's heart and lungs with a stethoscope to detect whether a heart murmur is present. A heart murmur can be normal in children but should be checked by a health professional. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Check your child's heart rate (pulses) on the neck, wrist, legs, and feet. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Check your child's nail beds, lips, and skin for a bluish tint (cyanosis) and/or clubbing. Your health professional may also check the amount of oxygen in your child's blood with an oximeter. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Look at the skin over the blood vessels in the neck to see whether the vessels bulge. This may happen if the heart is weak (heart failure). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Look at and feel your child's belly to check for an enlarged liver. The liver may be enlarged in children who have heart failure. </li> </ul>More tests may be needed, depending on the symptoms and type of defect. These may include:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Chest X-ray, to check the size and blood vessels of the heart. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG), to check for irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that may be related to a congenital heart defect. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stress test (exercise electrocardiogram), which may be done around the time the child starts school to find out how much exercise your child can do. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Blood tests, to check for anemia, polycythemia, or levels of certain chemicals in the blood. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Oximetry, to see whether oxygen-poor blood is being pumped to the body. This test would be done if your baby has severe difficulty breathing or has a bluish tint (cyanosis) to the skin, lips, and nail beds. The amount of oxygen in the blood can also be measured by an arterial blood gas (ABG) or a transcutaneous monitor (in infants). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">MRI of the heart and major blood vessels, to view abnormal heart structures and/or blood vessels. If this test is done, your child will probably be given medicine to make him or her relax and sleep during the test</li> </ul></blockquote>

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