This blog was medically reviewed by David Gremmels, MD, chief of pediatric cardiology at Children’s Minnesota.
Heart murmurs in kids are actually quite common and don’t always mean something is wrong. But it is still important to get a heart murmur evaluated if other symptoms as present as well as it can be a sign of a heart problem or other health issues.
A heart murmur is usually detected when a healthcare professional listens to your child’s heart with a stethoscope – which can make it difficult for parents to know when one may be present. Knowing the symptoms to look out for, what might cause them and treatment options can help you stay informed and know when to seek medical care.
Learn more about the cardiovascular program at Children’s Minnesota.
What are heart murmurs?
When our heart beats and blood is flowing through, it typically makes a “lub” or “dub” sound. However, if the heart is making a whooshing or swishing sound, that is a heart murmur. This means blood is flowing through our heart at a rapid, choppy pace.
How common are heart murmurs in kids?
If you’re wondering how common are heart murmurs in infants and children, they are actually very common and don’t always mean something is wrong. In fact, most people have experienced harmless or innocent murmurs in childhood.
Innocent murmurs versus pathological heart murmurs
There are two types of heart murmurs – it is either innocent or pathological. Most pediatric heart murmurs are typically innocent and happen when blood is flowing rapidly through a healthy heart, and the heart muscles are contracting. In this case, further evaluation may not be required.
Heart murmurs in toddlers and teens can be pathological type when it happens, and the child has a known structural heart abnormality.
When to worry about a heart murmur?
If you’ve just been told your child has a heart murmur, you may be wondering: can you outgrow a heart murmur? In many cases, the answer is yes. Most heart murmurs in childhood are innocent, meaning they are not caused by a heart problem and may go away as kids get older.
Still, it’s important to know when to worry about a heart murmur in children or babies. If your child’s pediatrician suspects the murmur may be pathological, they may refer your child to a pediatric cardiologist for further evaluation and an official diagnosis.
Heart murmur causes
There are two pediatric heart murmur types, and what causes a murmur depends on what type your child has. Infant heart murmur causes might be related to things like fevers or growth spurts if they have an innocent heart murmur. As for older children, causes can also include fevers, growth spurts, exercise, an overactive thyroid or amenia that can change our blood flow temporarily and cause innocent heart murmurs.
For pathological heart murmurs, it is usually tied to a heart condition or abnormality. Causes of a worrisome heart murmur can include:
- A congenital heart defect: such as holes in the top chamber (ASD) or bottom chamber (VSD).
- Heart valve disease
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a genetic heart disease that makes the walls of your heart thicker and stiffer, which makes it harder for your heart to pump blood.
- Endocarditis – a rare heart infection that is caused by bacteria from other parts of the bodies entering the bloodstream and attaching to heart tissues.
Learn more about all the heart conditions we treat and the treatment options offered at Children’s Minnesota.
Symptoms of heart murmurs
Many children with innocent heart murmurs have no symptoms at all and continue to grow, play and develop normally. However, certain symptoms may point to an underlying heart condition. For symptoms of a heart murmur in infants, you might notice difficulty feeding and poor growth. For older children, symptoms to look out for are unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting.
Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric heart murmurs
To diagnose a heart murmur, your child’s primary care provider or pediatrician will start with a physical exam, listen to your child’s heart, ask about symptoms, health history and family history. If more information is needed, your child may be referred to a pediatric cardiologist for additional testing, such as an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to look at the heart’s structure, function and blood flow.
Treatment depends on what is causing the murmur. Innocent heart murmurs usually do not need treatment and may go away over time. If the murmur is related to an underlying heart condition, your child’s care team may recommend monitoring, medication or specialized cardiac care.
How the experts at Children’s Minnesota can help
“My kid has a heart murmur, is it normal?” is a common question parents ask after learning their child has one – and the answer is often yes. However, it’s still important to have it checked by a pediatric heart expert to eliminate any other serious health conditions. The team at Children’s Minnesota can help families understand how common heart murmurs can be and what causes them. From routine evaluations and echocardiograms to advanced treatment for more complex heart conditions, Children’s Minnesota provides compassionate, specialized care for children’s hearts.
Whether your child’s murmur is innocent or needs follow-up, our pediatric cardiology team can guide you through the next steps with clear answers and a care plan tailored to your child.
Get expert answers and compassionate care for your child’s heart from the pediatric cardiology team at Children’s Minnesota.
