Toddler & Acquired Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease and Kawasaki disease are the two most common types of acquired heart disease in children, according to the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital. While Rheumatic Heart Disease is more frequently seen in children between the ages of five and fifteen, it can also affect younger children, including toddlers. Kawasaki Disease is most common in children under five, and is often observed in toddlers.

Causes

• Strep throat infection, caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, has the potential to advance to rheumatic fever if left untreated. Rheumatic heart disease is a possible complication of rheumatic fever, whereby damage is done to the valves of the heart, according to UCSF Children's Hospital. The cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown. New cases are reported more frequently in the winter and spring, and it is often seen in clusters. Some scientists theorize that Kawasaki disease may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, although there is no evidence that it is contagious.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of rheumatic heart disease vary from case to case, and damage to the heart may not be initially recognized. UCSF Children's Hospital states that the onset of symptoms is usually two weeks following an untreated throat infection, and can include: fever, malaise, swollen and red joints and skin rashes. The symptoms of Kawasaki disease consist of fever, irritability, rashes on the torso and genitals, swollen lymph nodes and what is known as strawberry tongue, where the tongue is swollen and has prominent raised bumps.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose either rheumatic heart disease or Kawasaki disease, a physician will perform a physical examination and may take blood and urine samples. In the case of suspected Kawasaki disease the samples will be checked for unusual white blood cells; for suspected rheumatic heart disease, they will be checked for confirmation of a recent strep throat infection, according to UCSF Children's Hospital. In both cases, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms may be ordered in order to look for signs of inflammation in and around the heart and blood vessels.

Treatment

• Treatment for Kawasaki disease begins with high dose intravenous gamma globulins and oral aspirin. Symptoms can be expected to diminish quickly, after which low dose aspirin will continue to be given to reduce the risk of blood clot formation. Rheumatic heart disease treatment involves the use of antibiotics, aspirin and occasionally steroids. According to UCSF Children's Hospital, children will be prescribed antibiotics for a period of several years following acute rheumatic fever to prevent recurring infections.

Complications

• Both Kawasaki disease and rheumatic heart disease are inflammatory conditions. Kawasaki disease affects the lymph nodes, blood vessels and the heart. It may cause inflammation of the coronary arteries, causing them to stretch out and form a cardiac aneurism, according to Medline Plus. Rheumatic heart disease affects the body's connective tissues, causing inflammation particularly in the joints and heart. This strain on the heart may cause irregular and potentially dangerous heartbeat patterns known as arrhythmia. Both of these complications will require monitoring throughout the patient's life.