When you take your little one to the doctor, it's normal to feel a little worried if the doctor says, "There's a little murmur in your baby's heart." However, not all heart murmurs are dangerous. Today we're going to talk about Still's Murmur , a harmless, or "innocent" heart murmur that often occurs in young children. So, let's learn more about it without any fear.
What exactly is Still's Murmur?
Simply put, a Still's Murmur is an extra sound heard by a healthy heart that is not related to heart disease or any other health condition. It is like a small musical sound coming from inside the heart. It is especially common in young children. This sound is made when blood flows through the heart.
Imagine, when water flows through a water pipe, you sometimes hear a small sound, right? That's how it is. In this case, this sound is heard clearly only when a doctor uses a stethoscope and listens to the child's chest. This sound is especially heard when the child is lying down, that is, facing upwards, in the supine position .
The important thing is that Still's Murmur does not pose any threat to your baby's health, and it does not require treatment.
Who hears this sound? How common is it?
Actually, this heart sound called Still's Murmur can occur in anyone of any age. However, it is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 3 and 6. The good news is that when the child gets a little older, that is , during adolescence, this sound often disappears on its own.
This is so common that surveys have found that about 72% of children have heard an innocent heart murmur at some point in their lives. Of these, Still's Murmur is the most common innocent heart murmur in young children.
Why do I hear this sound? What are the reasons?
We've been told that a Still's Murmur is caused by blood flowing through the baby's heart. However, doctors haven't yet found the exact cause of this sound. However, there are several factors that researchers think may contribute to it:
- Some fibrous bands (false tendons) inside the left ventricle , the main chamber on the left side of the heart, can cause a vibration and a sound when blood flows through it.
- Sometimes, a condition like anemia (a decrease in red blood cells in the body) can cause the blood flow through the heart to increase, which can also cause this kind of noise.
- This sound can also be caused by some thin, strong cord-like parts (chordae) that protrude from the right ventricle of the heart , which are connected to the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart.
- This sound may also be heard due to vibrations caused by blood flowing through the chambers of the heart as normal.
These are the current possible causes. But, remember, whatever the cause, Still's Murmur is not dangerous.
What are the symptoms of Still's Murmur?
The main characteristic of Still's Murmur is a soft, musical vibrating sound . Some people say it is like the sound of an Aeolian harp . You may not be able to hear this sound just by listening to it. However, it can only be detected by a doctor using a stethoscope.
As we mentioned earlier, this sound is louder when the baby is lying on its back , and quieter when it is sitting or standing. Also, this sound is not always continuous. Sometimes it may come and go. This sound may be louder when the baby is sick or very happy or excited .
The most important thing is that Still's Murmur does not cause any other physical symptoms or health problems.
Doctor, how do you know for sure that this is a Still's Murmur?
When you take your child to the doctor, they will first ask about your child's medical history and perform a complete physical examination . This examination will specifically look for the following:
- Abdominal palpation is performed to check for an enlarged liver and signs of heart failure.
- Blood pressure is being measured.
- Chest palpation is done to check for enlarged heart (cardiomegaly).
- Blood oxygen levels are checked (Pulse oximetry).
- The child's legs are palpated to check for good blood circulation (distal pulse palpation).
Then, the doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to sounds coming from inside the child's body. At that time:
- Unusual noise
- Clicking sound
- Extra heart sounds (murmurs)
Paying attention to things like that.
If the doctor hears an extra heart sound, they will look closely at the following to determine if it is a Still's Murmur :
- Does the sound change when the baby moves around? The sound is louder when the baby is lying on its back.
- Is the sound heard when the heart contracts (Systolic murmur), when the heart is at rest (Diastolic murmur), or all the time? The Still's murmur is heard after the heart contracts, that is, in the middle (Mid-systolic).
- Is the sound heard only from one place, or is it spread to different parts of the chest (radiation)? There is no such spread in stills murmurs.
- Location of the sound. The Still's murmur is mainly heard in the lower part of the chest, to the left of the sternum , the bone in the middle of the chest.
- How loud/soft is the sound? `(Intensity)`? The stills murmur makes a soft sound.
- The quality of the sound and the pitch (high, medium, low). A stills murmur is a musical, blowing, low-pitched sound.
If the doctor looks at all of this and decides that it is a Still's Murmur , your child will not need any further testing.
However, if the doctor has any doubts about the sound, or thinks it could be a heart murmur that is not innocent, they may refer the child to a cardiologist who may run some more tests. These tests include:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): This records the electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram (echo): This uses high-frequency waves to take pictures of the heart's chambers and valves.
Is there any medicine for this? How will it affect the baby?
Here's the most important thing. A child with a Still's Murmur does not need any treatment . It will go away on its own over time.
Your child's Still's Murmur will not interfere with their daily activities, play, or school activities in any way. They can live a completely normal, healthy life .
Is there a way to prevent Still's Murmur?
No. There is nothing we can do to prevent Still's Murmur from occurring. Because it is not a disease.
What should we as parents know if our baby has Still's Murmur?
When you find out that your child has Still's Murmur , keep these things in mind:
- This often goes away on its own before the child reaches puberty .
- Some adults may also have this sound, but they may not show any symptoms.
- Still's Murmur is not a sign of heart disease or any other health condition .
- The child can play, exercise, go to school, and engage in all other activities as normal.
- The most important thing is to have your child have regular checkups so that the doctor can monitor your child's overall health.
When should we see a doctor?
Although Still's Murmur does not require treatment, it is important to see a doctor immediately if your child develops any of these new symptoms:
- If you feel chest pain, discomfort, or tightness .
- If you feel extremely tired (extremely tired).
- If something like fainting occurs.
- If you have difficulty breathing (Dyspnea) or feel like you are suffocating.
If you have these symptoms, it is best to seek medical advice as soon as possible, as they may not be related to Still's Murmur .
So, the final take-home message is:
Okay, so we've talked a lot about Still's Murmur . Finally, here are the most important things you need to remember:
- Still's Murmur is an innocent heart sound that is very common among young children (especially 3-6 years old).
- This is not related to any heart disease or other health problems .
- This does not require any treatment , and it often goes away on its own as the child grows older.
- Doctors diagnose this through a physical examination and by listening to the heart using a stethoscope.
- Although hearing a heart murmur like this can be a bit frightening, a Still's Murmur does not cause any harm to the baby's health.
- Even if your child has this condition, they can live a fully active, healthy life .
So, if your child's doctor tells you something like this, don't panic unnecessarily, talk to the doctor thoroughly and find out the details. Always remember, it is most important to make decisions about your child's health based on medical advice.
` Still's Murmur, Heart Sound, Innocent Murmur, Pediatrics, Heart Health, Innocent Murmur, Still's Murmur
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