What are the Symptoms of a Ventricular Septal Defect?
The size of the ventricular septal opening will affect the type of symptoms noted, the severity of symptoms, and the age at which they first occur. A VSD permits extra blood to pass from the left ventricle through to the right side of the heart, and the right ventricle and lungs become overworked as a result. The larger the opening, the greater the amount of blood that passes through and overloads the right ventricle and lungs. Symptoms often occur in infancy. The following are the most common symptoms of VSD. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: • Fatigue • Sweating • Rapid breathing • Heavy breathing • Congested breathing • Disinterest in feeding, or tiring while feeding • Poor weight gain The symptoms of VSD may resemble other medical conditions or heart problems. Always consult your child’s physician for a diagnosis.
