Growth Pattern and Characteristics of Cardiac Pediatric Patients

Growth Pattern and Characteristics of Cardiac Pediatric Patients Attending Assiut University Children Hospital and Sidi Galal Health Insurance Clinic

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly in the body, affecting about 8 per 1000children. cardiovascular disorders are the most debilitating and one of causes of organic growth disorders in children.Malnutrition is a constant phenomenon among children with CHD. The degree and type of malnutrition may be related to characteristics of the CHD, including presence of cyanosis, congestive heart failure (CHF), or pulmonary hypertension (PHTN).

At birth, the weight and length of children with CHD are close to normal and APGAR scores are generally high. Cyanotic patients are affected in growth, depending on the severity of tissue hypoxemia and on the degree of physiological variation. Mostly acute malnutrition occurs in a cyanotic heart disease but chronic malnutrition occurs in cyanotic lesions. The severity of malnutrition variety from mild under nutrition to failure to thrive. impairing growth and increasing post-operative morbidity and mortality. Early rapid growth retardation detection in early age and improved nutritional status have the potential to reduce cardiac impact on growth and feeding. Insure appropriate nutrition in those patients by the two main methods (enteral and parenteral) help in better outcome

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 0-4 years old
• Male and female,
• diagnosed as cardiac diseased children

Exclusion Criteria:

• children more than 4 years old
• not genetic disorder as down syndrome This is a descriptive study.