Parents need to be aware of congenital heart disease (CHD) to prevent it from happening to their children, said doctors at a programme in the capital yesterday.

CHD is a heart condition or defect that develops in the womb before a baby is born.

They also said the disease is curable if it is treated early, but parents do not know about it.

Some defects in the heart may not be identified until someone reaches adulthood. There are some defects that are not major, thus can be treated without an operation, they said.

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka organised the awareness seminar, titled “Advancement of Paediatric Cardiology at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka”, on its own compound in the city's Bashundhara area.

Presenting the keynote speech, Dr Tahera Nazrin, consultant on Clinical and Interventional Paediatric Cardiology of Apollo Hospitals, said parents should bring their children to the doctors for heart check up so that the disease can be detected at an early stage and proper treatment is ensured at the right time.

She said most of the parents think that the treatment requires surgery on the heart.

But if detected at an early stage, proper medication and some special devices can help the heart run properly, she said.

Terming the disease inherent, she said if the mother has the problem, the child is likely to be affected by the disease.

If a pregnant woman can control hypertension and diabetes, and if MMR vaccination is taken prior to pregnancy, the heart disease of the unborn child can be prevented, she said. 

Moreover, after the child's birth, the parents should know about the symptoms of the disease to treat it at the earliest, she added. The symptoms may include bluish baby just after birth in spite of giving oxygen; discolouration of skin and nails (cyanosis) and elevation of nails (clubbing); unusual feeding pattern of the baby (small feed -- sleep pattern and small feed); tiredness during feeding, crying, playing or exercise; repeated cough, cold (pneumonia) and hospital admission/taking antibiotics for this; poor weight gain/development of the baby; palpitation/chest pain/unconsciousness; rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis.

Prof Dr Md Shahabuddin Talukder, senior consultant on clinical and interventional cardiology at Apollo, said treating the congenital heart disease without operation is not new and such treatment has been developed in the last 20 years.

Acting Director of Medical Services at the hospital Dr Arif Mahmud said they are providing treatment to all at a minimum cost and will provide the treatment with proper care. During the seminar, they introduced echocardiogram device, which helps detect problems in the heart.

Moreover, they also launched a website (www.drtaheranaznin.com) regarding the heart disease where anyone can seek help.       

Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Hospitals Dr Ratnadeep Chaskar, Senior Consultant and Coordinator on Clinical and Interventional Cardiology Prof Dr AQM Reza and Senior Consultant and Coordinator on Paediatrics and Neonatology Prof Dr Mohammed Istiaque Hossain, among others, were present.