Every year in India, over 2.5 lakh babies are born with congenital heart disease — a structural problem in the heart that is present from birth. Yet, despite the scale of the issue, only about 30,000 of these children receive the treatment they need. Many babies may show warning signs in the first few days of life, while others appear healthy for weeks or even months, making early detection a challenge.
Tragically, untreated heart defects can lead to poor growth, serious health complications, or even early death. What makes the problem worse is that nearly 70% of untreated children live in underserved regions, where lack of finances, awareness, and access to specialized care limits their chances of survival. However, with timely diagnosis and modern treatment, most of these children can go on to live healthy, active lives.
What is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease, or CHD, includes conditions like holes in the heart, narrow valves, or wrong connections in the blood vessels. Some are minor and may close on their own, while others are critical and need surgery or other treatment soon after birth. In many cases, parents may notice signs like fast breathing, poor feeding, excessive sweating, blue lips or fingers, or the baby not gaining weight properly. These signs are often mistaken for general weakness or minor illness. That’s why awareness among parents and regular follow-ups with a pediatrician are important in the early years.
How Doctors Detect the Problem Early
In most cases, a trained pediatrician may hear an unusual heart sound and recommend further tests. The most common and useful test is an Echocardiography — a painless outpatient procedure lasting 10 minutes. In high-risk pregnancies, heart defects can also be picked up before birth through fetal echocardiography, usually done around 18–20 weeks. In newborns, a simple bedside test called pulse oximetry, which checks oxygen levels in the baby’s blood can help identify serious heart problems before symptoms appear.
Treatment Options That Save Lives
Thanks to modern advances, many children with CHD no longer need open-heart surgery. Doctors can now treat several types of heart defects through catheter-based procedures, a thin tube is inserted through a small hole in the leg or neck and guided into the heart. Through this, they can close holes, widen narrowed valves, or place devices inside the heart without any major cuts or stitches.
For more complex problems, open-heart surgery is still the best option, but outcomes are now far better than before, especially if the child is diagnosed early and treated on time.
Life After Treatment
Most children who are treated for CHD go on to live normal, active lives. Some may need regular follow-ups or medicines, but they can attend school, play sports, and grow just like any other child. In fact, with early intervention, their physical and mental development improves significantly, and the risk of future complications reduces.
One of the biggest challenges in India is that many children, especially in rural or low-income areas, do not get diagnosed on time. Government schemes and health programs from private Hospitals now support free heart surgeries for children in underserved areas, but timely referral and awareness remain key.
Parents, pediatricians, and hospitals all have a role to play in ensuring that no child with a treatable heart defect is missed. Because when it comes to a baby’s heart, every beat matters — and every day counts.
The write is a Chairman – Pediatric Cardiac Sciences, Yatharth Hospital, Greater Noida
