hcma
09-11-2003, 01:37 PM
Copyright 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
September 11, 2003 Thursday Home Edition
SECTION: Editorial; Pg. 15A
LENGTH: 578 words
HEADLINE: CHILDREN'S MEDICINE: Track, treat unhealthy hearts
BYLINE: ROBERT M. CAMPBELL
SOURCE: For the Journal-Constitution
BODY:
Sudden death in high school athletes is a topic that has received a lot
of attention recently. Contrary to what many recent articles and news
broadcasts have said, however, the children who have died suddenly on the
playing field were not completely healthy. They often do not have normal
hearts.
Instead, these children have serious heart conditions that have not been
diagnosed. Early detection of heart problems can decrease the odds of losing
another Georgia child to sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest in young people is rare. It affects one in 200,000
children. Many of the causes for sudden cardiac arrest are genetic. This
means there are often other family members with heart conditions. Parents
who are worried about the safety of their children can start with a simple
step --- getting an accurate family health history.
Has a child in your family ever died from sudden infant death syndrome?
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant younger than age 1 that cannot be
explained even after a complete investigation.
Have there been sudden deaths at a young age or accidental deaths from
car accidents or drowning? These types of accidents could have been caused
by sudden cardiac arrest while driving or swimming.
Does your family have a history of seizures, sudden fainting or deafness
at birth?
Are there exercise-related complaints, such as chest pain, dizziness or
fainting after heavy exercise, heart palpitations and shortness of breath?
These symptoms do not necessarily mean your child has a heart condition.
However, they are important warning signs and should not be ignored.
A complete family history is the foundation of the pre-participation form
recommended by the Georgia High School Association. The form is online at
www.choa.org/sportsmed. Depending on the answers to the form's questions,
the doctor doing the screening may see the traits or symptoms of a genetic
heart condition.
From there, the doctor will suggest more tests, if needed. One could be
an echocardiogram, which screens for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is the
leading cause of sudden death in young athletes, but no more than 20 percent
to 30 percent of sudden death cases are caused by HCM.
That is why an echocardiogram is a good place to start, but it will not
rule out every condition. Typically, an entire series of tests is needed to
diagnose a child's heart condition. For example, an electrocardiogram would
be needed to rule out a condition such as Long QT Syndrome.
Parents and doctors must also remember there are "silent carriers." These
are children with no symptoms and normal resting heart rates. Therefore, a
negative family history does not necessarily mean that a child will not have
heart problems. Sudden death is not always predictable --- the first sign
may be cardiac arrest.
Primary prevention is key to preventing sudden cardiac arrest. It
includes early detection and appropriate management of an identified heart
problem. Secondary prevention includes CPR training, installing automated
external defibrillators in public places and ensuring that each community
has a reliable rapid response system in place.
Just one of these methods, such as the use of AEDs, is not enough. It is
through the combination of these primary and secondary prevention methods
that we can help protect children.
Dr. Robert M. Campbell is chief medical officer at Sibley Heart Center at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
September 11, 2003 Thursday Home Edition
SECTION: Editorial; Pg. 15A
LENGTH: 578 words
HEADLINE: CHILDREN'S MEDICINE: Track, treat unhealthy hearts
BYLINE: ROBERT M. CAMPBELL
SOURCE: For the Journal-Constitution
BODY:
Sudden death in high school athletes is a topic that has received a lot
of attention recently. Contrary to what many recent articles and news
broadcasts have said, however, the children who have died suddenly on the
playing field were not completely healthy. They often do not have normal
hearts.
Instead, these children have serious heart conditions that have not been
diagnosed. Early detection of heart problems can decrease the odds of losing
another Georgia child to sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest in young people is rare. It affects one in 200,000
children. Many of the causes for sudden cardiac arrest are genetic. This
means there are often other family members with heart conditions. Parents
who are worried about the safety of their children can start with a simple
step --- getting an accurate family health history.
Has a child in your family ever died from sudden infant death syndrome?
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant younger than age 1 that cannot be
explained even after a complete investigation.
Have there been sudden deaths at a young age or accidental deaths from
car accidents or drowning? These types of accidents could have been caused
by sudden cardiac arrest while driving or swimming.
Does your family have a history of seizures, sudden fainting or deafness
at birth?
Are there exercise-related complaints, such as chest pain, dizziness or
fainting after heavy exercise, heart palpitations and shortness of breath?
These symptoms do not necessarily mean your child has a heart condition.
However, they are important warning signs and should not be ignored.
A complete family history is the foundation of the pre-participation form
recommended by the Georgia High School Association. The form is online at
www.choa.org/sportsmed. Depending on the answers to the form's questions,
the doctor doing the screening may see the traits or symptoms of a genetic
heart condition.
From there, the doctor will suggest more tests, if needed. One could be
an echocardiogram, which screens for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is the
leading cause of sudden death in young athletes, but no more than 20 percent
to 30 percent of sudden death cases are caused by HCM.
That is why an echocardiogram is a good place to start, but it will not
rule out every condition. Typically, an entire series of tests is needed to
diagnose a child's heart condition. For example, an electrocardiogram would
be needed to rule out a condition such as Long QT Syndrome.
Parents and doctors must also remember there are "silent carriers." These
are children with no symptoms and normal resting heart rates. Therefore, a
negative family history does not necessarily mean that a child will not have
heart problems. Sudden death is not always predictable --- the first sign
may be cardiac arrest.
Primary prevention is key to preventing sudden cardiac arrest. It
includes early detection and appropriate management of an identified heart
problem. Secondary prevention includes CPR training, installing automated
external defibrillators in public places and ensuring that each community
has a reliable rapid response system in place.
Just one of these methods, such as the use of AEDs, is not enough. It is
through the combination of these primary and secondary prevention methods
that we can help protect children.
Dr. Robert M. Campbell is chief medical officer at Sibley Heart Center at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.