How to detect “heart” abnormalities in children There are many different types of precardiac disease, and the manifestations vary from one type of disease to another, and even from one stage of development to another. It is important to note that although a “heart murmur” can be detected during physical examination in most cases of precocious heart disease, it does not necessarily mean that there is a structural heart abnormality, and some children with complex precocious heart disease may not have a heart murmur detected during physical examination, and some normal children may have a physiological heart murmur during the growth phase. Children with non-cyanotic conditions mainly have ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and aortic constriction. Children with more severe symptoms may present with shortness of breath, excessive sweating, irritability, feeding difficulties, delayed nutritional development, and poor activity level compared to their peers. Most of these children present with cardiac insufficiency at an early age; however, because children with cardiac insufficiency are prone to pneumonia and have symptoms similar to pneumonia, it is often difficult to differentiate them. For infants under 6 months of age, the most important things to look for during daily feeding are: “amount of milk per feeding”, “duration of feeding”, “number of breaths”, “heart rate” and so on. “heart rate” and several other conditions. Parents of children can perform daily self-assessment based on the following table, the higher the cumulative score the higher the likelihood of cardiac insufficiency. The main conditions that can be observed for infants, children, etc. include “sweating”, “respiratory status and frequency”, and “heart rate”. See the two tables below for details. Regardless of the method used, the score requires contact with a clinician for consultation in mild cases, and prompt contact with a physician or a visit to the nearest clinic in moderate cases and above.