Is it important for children to have heart murmurs during physical examinations

Whether heart murmurs are detected during a child's physical examination should be judged based on specific circumstances. Most physiological murmurs do not require special treatment, while a few pathological murmurs require further examination. Heart murmurs are more common in children, usually caused by turbulence in blood flow through the heart or blood vessels. Physiological murmurs are more common in healthy children and are not related to cardiac structure. They often increase after fever, anemia, or intense exercise, and weaken or disappear in a quiet state. This type of murmur is usually a soft, brief systolic murmur, without accompanying other symptoms such as breathing difficulties, growth and development delays, etc. During auscultation, doctors will preliminarily determine the nature of the noise based on its intensity, location, and nature. If there are no abnormal signs, regular follow-up observations can be conducted. Pathological murmurs may be associated with congenital heart disease, valve abnormalities, or myocardial lesions. The murmurs are often loud, rough, and continuous throughout the entire systolic period, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as lip cyanosis, feeding difficulties, and excessive sweating. If a murmur is found during a physical examination accompanied by the above symptoms, a clear diagnosis should be made through examinations such as echocardiography and electrocardiogram. For example, in ventricular septal defect, a loud murmur can be heard at the left edge of the sternum, while patent ductus arteriosus presents as a continuous machine like murmur. Early intervention is crucial for improving prognosis, and some cases require medication or surgical treatment.

It is recommended that parents record their children's daily activity tolerance, presence or absence of shortness of breath, and avoid vigorous exercise until a clear diagnosis is made. Regular follow-up echocardiography can dynamically observe changes in murmurs. If a pathological problem is diagnosed, individualized treatment plans should be developed according to medical advice. Daily attention should be paid to preventing respiratory infections and ensuring balanced nutrition to support heart development.