2yo DS, when being diagnosed with tonsilitis, the doctor noticed a heart murmer, but said it could be related to a virus???

[LonelyLinda]

Does anybody have any experience of this as I am obviously quite shocked and worried.

My 2.5yo son, this morning, has been diagnosed with tonsilitis, when checking his chest the doctor mentioned that there was a murmer on his heart!!!!

He said that it could be related to the virus? or that there could be a hole in his heart!!!! or that an artery could be blocked!!!

My husband had taken him to the gp unit as I was at home nursing my DD who also has tonsilitis and my husband didn't ask them to check it out further, the doctor just told him to mention it to the gp next time he sees them.

My son was a specialist children's hospital as a child so I'd have thought that this would have been picked up before now, or even previously when he has had a chest infection. Or is it something that can develop?

Am obviously worried and anxious as I cannot get to the gp until monday. I just wondered if anybody knew anything further about this kind of thing?

when my dd2 was about the same age, a heart murmur was picked up when she was ill. we were asked to bring her back when she was well to see if it was still there. we did and it was. so she was referred for an echocardiogram and was found to be an innocent murmur.

on the other hands, dd1's heart condition was only picked up at age 7 when i demanded all my childen were screened due to my husbands heart condition. she has a murmur due to the heart condition.

Some children develop an innocent murmur when they are ill Linda, even though they have a structurally normal heart.

I should have thought if he's been in hospital that it would have been picked up before if it was there previously. Usually they will wait until the child is well, listen again and if it's still there refer to the specialist.

You're bound to be worried but it's most probably just a murmur related to his current illness.

Hope this helps.

Oh right thank you, I hadn't heard of an innocent murmur and I hadn't heard of having murmurs related to a virus, it was very shocking to hear and also with it being second hand from my DH.

I feel a bit better now thank you for your information.

hi my dd2 is 21 months and she sees a paed for being a prem baby he mentioned to me that she had a murmur i immediatley panicked and asked hundreds of questions he shrugged them off and said dont worry its not loud and if still there in 6 months he MAY refer to specialist to have an echo. So he obviously wasnt that concerned. Think they are only concerning if your child is lethargic with them and gets blue lips etc etc

Sorry no experience or advice, but it must be a worry for you. Hope ds gets better soon.

It is possible to have a murmur during illness - you should take him back when he is well and ask them to check it again. My DD's cardiologist mentioned that this is very common.

Please don't worry in the meantime (easier said...) as PP said there are innocent heart murmurs. My DD was born with a loud heart murmur which turned out to be 2 holes in the heart and a narrowed valve which had all rectified themselves by the time she was 6 months old. So even when it sounds horrendous it's not always worst case scenario.

Hope he gets well soon.