Tetralogy of Fallot Common Symptoms

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on August 31, 2024
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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 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.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Can Tetralogy of Fallot be cured?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a type of congenital heart disease linked to family genetics and is considered quite severe among congenital heart conditions. Generally, within a few months after birth, children will exhibit cyanosis of the skin. It is crucial to perform surgery on the child promptly in such cases. Currently, the level of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery in our country has developed very rapidly. For typical cases of Tetralogy of Fallot, surgical treatment can be curative. Moreover, there are no specific requirements regarding weight and age for children undergoing heart surgery nowadays. Therefore, once Tetralogy of Fallot is diagnosed in young children, it is best to perform surgery as soon as possible. These children can then grow up, develop normally, and attend school like their peers.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Does Tetralogy of Fallot easily lead to heart failure?

Tetralogy of Fallot often leads to symptoms of heart failure because it is a severe congenital disease. Affected children tend to present with cyanosis of the lips, impaired growth and development, and a simple echocardiography can reveal specific indicators such as aorta overriding, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and ventricular septal defect. These children have limited lung and heart function, making them prone to increased cardiac load and symptoms of heart failure following infections or physical activity. Therefore, early surgical treatment is necessary for these children to prevent recurrent infectious diseases and heart failure, which can affect their normal growth and development. Additionally, it is crucial to enhance nutrition and exercise in their daily lives to boost their immune system. For Tetralogy of Fallot, early detection and treatment are essential.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Is tetralogy of Fallot a chromosomal problem?

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease in childhood, consisting of four defects: ventricular septal defect, obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. It is a type of congenital heart disease, which generally stems from abnormal cardiovascular development during fetal life, resulting in cardiovascular malformations not controlled by chromosomes. The malformation of the cardiovascular system is mainly caused by genetic factors, environmental factors, and their interactions. The exact cause of this congenital heart disease has not been fully identified yet, indicating that it is not a chromosomal disease but a result of cardiovascular developmental abnormalities during fetal life.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Is Tetralogy of Fallot serious?

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease in children, accounting for about 10% of congenital heart diseases. It is a complex type of congenital heart condition, consisting of four defects: a ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Due to these four malformations, children will experience cyanosis, poor exercise tolerance, and may quickly become fussy or emotionally disturbed with physical activity. This can lead to noticeable worsening of dyspnea and cyanosis. They may also exhibit a preference for squatting, as squatting can decrease the return blood volume to the heart, increase systemic vascular resistance, and temporarily relieve hypoxic symptoms. Other symptoms include clubbing, paroxysmal hypoxia attacks which are more common in infants. These attacks can be triggered by crying, emotional excitement, anemia, infections, etc., and suddenly manifest as paroxysmal breathing difficulties. In severe cases, there can be fainting, convulsions, and even death. Therefore, these clinical manifestations are very serious, making this disease a significantly dangerous condition.