GP just told me ds1 ( 4 yrs) has a heart murmur.

[nobodysfool]

Ds1 was rushed off to hospital at the end of last month with a temp of 104 and rising-wouldnt respond to paracetamol or ibuprofen.
They found that he has an ear infection and a urine infection.He was given strong antiobiotics and bigger doses of painkiller to combat the fever.
He then started to have diarrhoea which they said could be due to the antibiotics but more likely that he had the norovirus as well.
It took 2 weeks before he started feeling better and was really run down and tired.He went back to school and they have noted he has not been himself in class.
I took him back to the GP last night and she said he still had an ear infection and glue ear but most worrying he had a heart murmur.
GP hopes it is to do with the virus and has prescribed more antbiotics and an expectorant and we have to see her again in 3 weeks.
My stomach is in knots with worry that it isn't linked to the virus.
He had an ECG when he was rushed by ambulance to A&E so would the murmur have shown up on that?
Any help or advice would be great.

Thanks Pixionaleaf- I'm just so worried, can't think of much else.

Hi, please try not to worry too much, although I understand where you are coming from. Both my DS's have heart murmurs, for DS2 it is only audible to Dr's when his body is under stress, i.e. when he is ill, Ds1's is audible all the time but much more so when ill. Both have had ECG's that show that the murmurs are 'innocent'. They are apparently unlikely to grow out of them and will always have to field questions about their murmurs from Dr's when ill.

When your DS has recovered from his illness get your GP to refer him to a cardiologist, (this may have already happened) they will do a thorough check, ECG and ultrasound if necessary to make sure that it is innocent. You are then reassured and can in turn reassure other Dr's if it happens again.

Don't worry. Probably innocent murmur. Will not have shown on ECG. Will probably disappear with time. Only really need to worry if breathing problems, not thriving, blue lips etc. Get GP to refer to paeds doc. By the time the appointment comes he will be fully recovered from all recent illnesses and can properly be assessed.

Sounds like you have had a tough few weeks. I wish you and your family well.

Thanks hairymaclary- i really hope im worring over nothing.
Good to hear your little ones are ok reassuring to hear.
My GP has said to come back in 3 weeks but to honest i have been struggling with my emotions and its only day 1!

Thanks Sarabas- it certainly has been a tough few weeks for him and he hasnt moaned once.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it is an innocent one.

Please try not to worry - easy for me to say I know. My ds1 has a heart murmur which didn't show up till he was about 3 or 4. We had him checked out and it is innocent and likely to disappear. I think my dh also had one which has now disappeared.

thanks everyone your messages are reassuring.

Don't sit at home and worry, it will do you no good. Get an earlier appointment with gp and ask for a referral. It is a perfectly reasonable request for your DS.

xx

We had this too - heart murmur picked up while GP was listening to DS's chest when he had flu (aged about 3) and referred to cardiologist.

It was just as hairymclary said:
After about 3 months the hospital appointment came through, DS was thoroughly checked out and pronounced fit and well - it was a innocent murmur and all I have to do is remember this in case someone else mentions it.

If your DS doesn't have any other long term symptoms then hopefully it will be the same for you.

I have a nephew with a really serious congenital heart condition, despite several operations it barely slows him down at all, if that's any help. He's a bright, bouncy energetic child. So even if there was an issue it doesn't necessarily spell a major problem in life.

Sarabas- I'm guessing that the GP said wait 3 weeks so the course of antibiotics has done its job.Will phone them tomorrow and try and have a chat with GP.

tootootired - Ds is prone to ear infections and playing up for the camera (have a look at out Ford testd drive he is on there) but otherwise fit and well-so hopefully all will be ok.

I'm medically qualified (but disclaimer not a GP or paediatrician!).

Wanted to reassure you that lots of kids get what are called 'flow murmurs' when unwell with infections. Basically the heart is having to work a little harder to help the body fight infection & the flow across the valves in the heart becomes a wee bit more turbulent, giving a murmur. Should disappear as your DS gets over the infection. Sounds like he has been quite unwell given how high his temp was, so not surprising he developed a murmur.

Try not to worry (know it's hard; know what I'd be like if it was one of mine!) but chances are it'll settle soon!

HTH

Thanks derv78. You dont know how good that is to hear.
I had read that is wasnt unusual whlie they had a fever but it has been ok for a few weeks now and couldnt find anything that said it was common after fever.Do you know if ECG's pick up murmurs as he had one in the ambulance and they didnt seem concerned.His body just cant shift this ear infection.

A murmur won't show up on an ECG (docs would be able to see the action of heart valves, which is the source of a murmur, on an Echocardiogram; essentially an ultrasound of the heart).

However, if your DS's heart was under strain, this would show up on an ECG, so it's reassuring that ECG was fine.

It sounds as if you've had a tough few weeks, hope your DS feeling better soon.

This is the same situation as my friends wee boy (3) - he ahd a v high temp and convulsion they then found an ear infection and heart murmur.

He still has it 3weeks on and is otherwise ok in himself. He is being referred to a cardiologist just to 'double check' but GP is sure it is 'innocent'. It is relatively common I think. After all, if it wasnt my friends GP wouldnt be leaving the wee one 6 weeks before a check up if it was something to be really concerned about.

Derv78- i appreciate your advice i really do.

waitingforbedtime- how strange....my ds used to have convulsions as well so we were waiting for one to happen wen he had his temp.He didnt this time thankfully.Goodness knows what this virus is thats knocking all the kids out its horrible.
Hope your friends lo feels better soon and gets the all clear re murmur.

No probs, glad to be of help.

Just to add, if your DS's infection is ongoing, it may take some time for the murmur to settle (body still having to put in a bit of extra work, you see).

Hope you're feeling a bit more reassured.

ok, thanks again.Feeling much less paniky and teary now thankyou.