Tetralogy of Fallot symptoms in infants

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Infants with Tetralogy of Fallot often exhibit the following symptoms: First, cyanosis, which is most apparent in areas rich in capillaries such as the lips, fingernail beds, and conjunctiva. Cyanosis tends to worsen gradually during crying, emotional distress, or physical exertion. Second, squatting symptoms; infants who cannot walk often prefer to be held by adults in a flexed position of both lower limbs, reducing venous return and easing the cardiac workload. Older children often exhibit squatting during activities such as walking and playing, frequently squatting down momentarily. Third, infants in a prolonged hypoxic environment may develop clubbing, characterized by the enlargement of the fingertips and toes, with capillary expansion and proliferation, resembling drumsticks. Fourth, episodic hypoxia occurs predominantly in infants, triggered by feeding, crying, or emotional distress, manifesting as episodes of respiratory difficulty, with severe cases leading to sudden fainting or convulsions.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Can children with Tetralogy of Fallot be desired?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a relatively severe congenital heart disease. If it is detected during the fetal period, it is not an indication for termination of pregnancy. In other words, one should not choose to not have the baby simply because it has Tetralogy of Fallot. However, it is crucial that the baby undergoes a timely echocardiogram after birth to assess the condition and undergo surgery as soon as possible. Currently, pediatric surgery, particularly cardiothoracic surgery, is developing very rapidly in our country. With multiple surgeries, Tetralogy of Fallot can be surgically cured. Therefore, having a child with Tetralogy of Fallot is not an indication for termination of pregnancy.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Management of Hypoxic Episodes in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot

In the treatment of hypoxic episodes in children with Tetralogy of Fallot, mild cases can be alleviated by positioning the child in a knee-chest position, while severe cases should receive immediate oxygen therapy, along with appropriate medication to correct acidosis. It is important to regularly eliminate factors that may trigger hypoxic episodes, such as anemia and infections, and to maintain a calm environment for the child. If these measures do not effectively control the episodes, emergency surgical repair should be considered.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot Common Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of Tetralogy of Fallot include, firstly, cyanosis as the primary clinical symptom. The degree and onset of cyanosis are related to the severity of pulmonary stenosis, and it often appears in areas with abundant capillaries such as lips, fingers, toes, nail beds, and bulbar conjunctiva. Secondly, squatting symptoms are common among children; they often spontaneously squat for a while during walking or playing. Squatting, with the legs bent, reduces the venous return and thus decreases the load on the heart, temporarily relieving symptoms of hypoxia by reducing the right-to-left shunt. Thirdly, clubbing occurs due to long-term hypoxic conditions, which can cause capillary dilation and proliferation in the fingers and toes, and the local soft tissues and bones also grow and enlarge; fourthly, paroxysmal hypoxic attacks, which are most common in infants, can be triggered by breastfeeding, crying, emotional excitement, or anemia. These attacks suddenly occur and can lead to severe symptoms including difficulty breathing, fainting, convulsions, and even death.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot seizure causes

The cause of seizures in Tetralogy of Fallot is episodic hypoxia leading to cerebral hypoxia, which causes seizures, commonly seen in infants. These seizures can be triggered by feeding, crying, emotional excitement, anemia, or infections, manifesting as episodic breathing difficulties. In severe cases, sudden fainting, convulsions, or even death may occur. The underlying cause is the narrowing of the pulmonary artery infundibulum and sudden muscle spasms, which lead to temporary pulmonary artery obstruction, worsening cerebral hypoxia.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
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Can Tetralogy of Fallot receive oxygen therapy?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that includes abnormalities such as ventricular septal defects, pulmonary valve stenosis, and stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract. Due to these congenital defects, the ejection of blood from the heart is affected, which in turn impacts the blood supply to various systems and organs throughout the body. The patient may exhibit symptoms of cyanosis and hypoxia, especially after physical activity, hence the use of supplemental oxygen is advisable. While oxygen therapy can temporarily alleviate these hypoxic symptoms, it does not address the underlying issue. Surgery is necessary for a definitive resolution.