Symptoms of congenital heart defects can vary widely depending on the type and severity of the defect. Some common symptoms include:
- Cyanosis: A bluish tint to the skin, lips, or nails due to low oxygen levels in the blood.
- Rapid Breathing or Shortness of Breath: Especially during feeding in infants or physical activity in older children.
- Fatigue: Excessive tiredness or lack of energy, particularly during physical activities.
- Poor Growth: Difficulty feeding and gaining weight in infants.
- Heart Murmurs: An abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat, often detected during a routine check-up. In some cases, congenital heart defects may not cause noticeable symptoms until later in life, or they may be discovered during a routine physical exam or imaging test.