HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Is Heart Murmur The Cause For Failure To Thrive Problem In A Child?

My grandson is 6 yrs old. We just learned he has a heart mumur. We were told most of the time it is an innocent mumur. Question.. His hands recently have started staying cold. He also is a child that has failure to thrive problems. Which after many GI test show no answeres for FTT. could there be a heart problem causing his FTT?
Mon, 11 Apr 2016
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi & Welcome.
'Innocent murmur' does not appear to be the cause for failure to thrive.
Also called as functional, physiologic, or benign, these murmurs are normal, with healthy heart and are harmless. Innocent murmurs may be heard in children because their hearts are very close to their chest walls. Sometimes anxiety , stress, fever, anemia, & overactive thyroid cause innocent murmurs. An increased amount of blood flowing through the heart is responsible for the development of innocent murmur. These murmurs are unlikely to be the cause for Failure to thrive (FTT).

On the other hand, heart murmurs that result from a valve defect, narrowed blood vessel, or other cardiovascular defect which may have been present since birth (congenital) or developed as the result of another medical illness are called as 'pathologic' heart murmurs, may indicate the presence of a serious heart defect, especially when accompanied by other signs and symptoms of a heart problem such as shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats, or fainting. Failure to thrive (FTT) is an accompanying symptom of such murmurs.
Your grand son needs to be further evaluated to rule out other conditions such as anemia, hormonal disorders, genetic diseases, or diseases of the kidney, malnutrition, etc.
Hope the suggestions given above would be useful.
I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
Is Heart Murmur The Cause For Failure To Thrive Problem In A Child?

Hi & Welcome. Innocent murmur does not appear to be the cause for failure to thrive. Also called as functional, physiologic, or benign, these murmurs are normal, with healthy heart and are harmless. Innocent murmurs may be heard in children because their hearts are very close to their chest walls. Sometimes anxiety , stress, fever, anemia, & overactive thyroid cause innocent murmurs. An increased amount of blood flowing through the heart is responsible for the development of innocent murmur. These murmurs are unlikely to be the cause for Failure to thrive (FTT). On the other hand, heart murmurs that result from a valve defect, narrowed blood vessel, or other cardiovascular defect which may have been present since birth (congenital) or developed as the result of another medical illness are called as pathologic heart murmurs, may indicate the presence of a serious heart defect, especially when accompanied by other signs and symptoms of a heart problem such as shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats, or fainting. Failure to thrive (FTT) is an accompanying symptom of such murmurs. Your grand son needs to be further evaluated to rule out other conditions such as anemia, hormonal disorders, genetic diseases, or diseases of the kidney, malnutrition, etc. Hope the suggestions given above would be useful.