RT - Journal Article T1 - Echocardiographic findings in children and adolescents with heart murmurs JF - ISMJ YR - 2007 JO - ISMJ VO - 9 IS - 2 UR - http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-34-en.html SP - 161 EP - 167 K1 - congenital heart disease K1 - cyanoses K1 - ventricular septal defect K1 - murmur AB - Background: Heart disease in infants and children may often lead to rapid decompensation. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential because modern medicine and surgery can cure many heart defects. A cardiac murmur can be the first sign of a serious structural cardiac disease. Abnormal auscultatory findings, usually murmurs, are the most common reason for referral to the pediatric cardiologist. Methods: In a case series study, children and adolescents with heart murmurs, referred to or admitted at Fatemeh Zahra (S) Hospital of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, were evaluated between 2001 and 2006. The age range of participants was from birth to 18 years old. Chest x-ray, ECG, and echocardiography were done for them in addition to history taking and physical examination. Results: A total of 715 (56.2% male and 43.8% female) children and adolescents were included in our study (33.6% adolescents, 27.4% neonates, 22.7% infants and 16.3% children). A total of 59% of the cases had structural heart defects (organic), 27.3% had functional murmurs, and 13.7 % had acquired diseases. The most prevalent malformations were ventricular septal defects (26.2%), tetrology of Fallot (9.1%), and patent ductus arteriosus (8.7%) 23.3% of participants had growth retardation. Conclusion: Heart murmur may be the first sign of an underlying heart disease, and timely referral of children with a murmur for echocardiography is essential for diagnosis. LA eng UL http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-34-en.html M3 ER -