Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
PDA
Symptoms
A small PDA may not cause any symptoms. However, some infants may not tolerate a PDA, especially if it is large, and may have symptoms such as:
- Bounding pulse
- Fast breathing
- Poor feeding habits
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating while feeding
- Tiring very easily
- Poor growth
Signs and tests
Babies with PDA often have a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with a stethoscope. However, in premature infants, a heart murmur may not be heard. Doctor's may suspect the condition if the infant has breathing or feeding problems soon after birth.
Changes may be seen on chest x-rays. The diagnosis is confirmed with an echocardiogram.
Sometimes, a small PDA may not be diagnosed until later in childhood.
Images
Previous Section
Review Date: 12/21/2009
Reviewed By: Kurt R. Schumacher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology, University of
Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
