Current Pediatric Research

Background: Severe respiratory distress is a clinical feature commonly observed among children with congenital heart disease, but the underlying cause is often misdiagnosed. Objectives: This study is aimed at determining the common causes of severe respiratory distress observed among children with congenital heart disease. Methods: This study was a retrospective study in which children who had severe respiratory distress with underlying congenital heart disease seen between June 2017 and June 2018 were consecutively recruited from two teaching hospital. Results: Forty-seven children aged 2 months to 15 years were admitted for severe respiratory distress secondary to Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) at our centre between June 2017 and June 2018. The commonest CHD was isolated Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) which made up 36.2%, followed by Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) 23.4%. Identifiable causes of respiratory distress in these children were restrictive airway disease (36.2%) as the most common cause, followed by pulmonary oedema from congestive cardiac failure (27.8%). Among children with heart failure, 57.1%, 47.4%, 0% and 50% of infants, children aged 1-5, 6-10 and above 10 years respectively were affected. The commonest Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) was isolated Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) which made up 17 (36.2%), followed by Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) which made up of 11 (23.4%) of congenital heart diseases. Conclusion: Restrictive airway disease was noted as the commonest cause of severe respiratory distress among children with congenital heart disease. Among those with congestive heart failure, infants were more commonly affected.

Author(s):

Chinawa JM*, Uleanya N, Onukwuli VO, Chinawa AT, Obidike EO, Chukwu BF

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