What are the dangers of patent ductus arteriosus in children?

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a normal structure in the fetus that fails to close automatically after birth. The degree of harm varies depending on the severity of the disease.

In mild cases, the ductus arteriosus is small in diameter and there may be no obvious symptoms, but the abnormal shunting of blood will gradually increase the burden on the heart and lungs, causing fatigue, poor exercise endurance, slowed growth and development, and other problems over time. In moderate or severe cases, the ductus arteriosus is larger, which will cause more blood to be shunted from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, causing increased pulmonary circulation pressure and symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty feeding, and increased heart rate. If not treated in time, it may cause irreversible pulmonary hypertension and even heart failure, infective endocarditis, etc. This problem may be more serious for premature babies because they are more susceptible to circulatory instability.

If patent ductus arteriosus is confirmed, treatment should be based on duct size, symptoms and age. Drug treatment is the first choice, especially for premature infants. Indomethacin or ibuprofen can be used to inhibit prostaglandins and maintain ductal closure. If drugs are ineffective, interventional closure is a minimally invasive option, more commonly used in older children; surgical ligation is suitable for situations where the ductus is too large or cannot be occluded. Parents should also pay attention to monitoring the child's respiratory condition, weight gain and other changes, and regularly follow up with cardiac ultrasound to evaluate the treatment effect.

Not all cases of patent ductus arteriosus will lead to serious consequences, but early detection and early treatment are key. If you suspect that your child has symptoms such as heart murmurs and slow weight gain, you should seek medical attention immediately and have an ultrasound examination to confirm the diagnosis to avoid worsening of the condition due to delay.