GP heard a heart murmur when looking at dd - says it's prob harmless but...

[Moomin]

Dd was sick at the weekend and then developed a rash yesterday - little red pinpricks on her arms, top of her back and top of legs. We thought it was a reaction to the sun but thought we'd better get it checked so took her to see the GP. He gave her a thorough going over and said it was a non-specific rash, nothing sinister, probably caused by a virus.

Then he said he'd heard a little heart murmur and went on to say this was quite normal in young children when they were ill and not to panic. He also said to bring her back if there were any more probs but also to take her back in when she's well again to check out her heart and make sure it had gone.

He was very reassuring; I've also checked on a few websites and confirmed that it is very usual but I can't help worrying a little bit... I've had a few horrid thoughts about heart viruses that I've tried to suppress and am trying to have a word with myself. I spose it's a mummy's perogative to worry though isn't it? (BTW I don't want to seem like a neurotic cow when there are lots of children with long-term and much more serious heart problems...)

Hi Moomin - not neurotic, just a mum. Dd has heart problems and I know it puts most people into panic mode.

The GP sounds like he has it covered, some children do have a murmur when they're poorly, which will go again when they're better. Hope this is the case for your dd. The heart viruses you're thinking about usually make kids pretty sick quite quickly (often with flu-like symptoms) so as long as she's getting better try to put it out of you mind.

If the murmur doesn't go and you need more info, give me a shout.

oh thank you potty1. I feel very selfish worrying about this when you obviously have to live with worse then this every day. I'm very grateful for the reassurance, and will certainly take you up on your kind offer if there are any further developments. x

dd2 has a murmur, which is actually there all the time but more easily picked up when she is ill. i was very worried for a while due to dh heart probs. dd2 had an echo done by the cardiac team, and was pronouced as very healthy.

Hi Moomin. I know it can be very worrying. I had this with DS when he was about 8 weeks old. He had a nasty cold and I took him along to the GP. While checking him over he heard a murmur. Apparently the policy on this varies from one GP to another, my GP as a routine matter refers for a scan. We waited until ds was 8 months for this and thankfully they could find no problem.
Hope this helps.

My daughter was very poorly - turned out to be chest infection - running high temp, lethargic - took her to GP (daily!) - on one visit she thought she detected a murmur. I was beside myself - thinking all the worst case scenarios. Anyway she was referred to a Consultant Paedeatrician. He checked her over - thought she was OK but asked to see her again in 4 weeks. We went back and she got a clean bill of health.
He described the heart as a river - and murmur sounds like the water crashing up against something in the water!!!! When a child is poorly and has a temperature, their body has to work so much harder pumping blood - and this too can sound the same. I'm not a medic - but my daughter is OK and to see her racing around you certainly wouldn't imagine she'd ever had that scare!

I'm sure all will work out well. Best wishes!