When Should My Child See a Pediatric Cardiologist?

If your child has a history of any heart disease, regular follow-ups with a pediatric cardiologist are essential unless a doctor has told you that ongoing care is no longer needed. Staying proactive ensures your child’s heart stays healthy as they grow.

2. Concern for a possible fetal heart problem during pregnancy

If doctors noticed a possible heart problem during a baby’s ultrasound before birth or couldn’t see the heart clearly, they may recommend a check-up with a pediatric cardiologist after the baby is born. This visit helps make sure the heart is healthy and working properly.

A fetal cardiologist can also assess for fetal ventricular septal defect (VSD), valve stenosis, cardiac dysfunction, and arrythmia (heart rhythm abnormalities).

>>Related: Need a fetal echocardiogram? Here’s what to expect at your appointment. 

3. Heart murmur: not always heart disease 

A “murmur” is not a diagnosis by itself—it’s just an extra sound a doctor hears when listening to the heart. Most of the time, murmurs are completely normal and don’t mean anything is wrong. But sometimes, a murmur can be a sign of a heart condition, like a small hole in the heart, a thick or leaky valve, or an extra connection inside the heart. A pediatric cardiologist can check to see if a heart murmur is normal or needs more attention.

>>Related: 4 Things to Know About Heart Murmurs in Children

4. Arrhythmia: an irregular heartbeat  

An arrhythmia is when the heart beats in an unusual way for more than a couple beats. If it causes symptoms or is very frequent, it can be serious and may need treatment. Sometimes, people can feel single “skipped beats,” which are usually harmless and don’t need treatment. A pediatric cardiologist can help tell the difference between harmless and concerning heart rhythms.

5. Dysautonomia or POTS 

Dysautonomia, a condition that causes dizziness mostly in teenagers, isn’t dangerous by itself, but it can lead to falls. It only needs treatment if it really affects your child’s daily life. If a child feels lightheaded often or severely, even after drinking enough fluids, it’s a good idea to see a cardiologist to make sure it’s not related to a heart issue.

If a close family member (parent or sibling) had heart disease or passed away suddenly before age 50, a child may need a heart check-up, especially if they have any heart-related symptoms.

7. Poor weight gain

If your infant or child has struggled with feeding or weight gain over the course of a couple of months, even with an increase in calories and treatment from their pediatrician, it might be time to see a pediatric cardiologist. This is especially true if they are also having possible cardiac symptoms, which your pediatrician should alert you to. 

8. High blood pressure or cholesterol 

Just like adults, kids can have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which we all know can lead to serious health problems later in life. It’s important for them to see a pediatric cardiologist to monitor and manage these issues early.

9. If they recently had heart surgery

If they had heart surgery to correct a specific condition, they should be under the regular care of a pediatric cardiologist for follow-ups.

At Connecticut Children’s, our pediatric cardiologists treat children from before birth into adulthood.