What is a Heart Murmur in Children? Should I Worry?

Many parents worry when they encounter the term "heart murmur" during their child's doctor's examination. However, not every heart murmur is an indication of a serious disease.

A heart murmur is the sound of blood flow in the heart heard with a stethoscope. These are divided into two categories: innocent (physiological) murmurs and pathological murmurs:

🔹 Innocent Murmurs: Murmurs that are seen in more than 50% of children and do not carry any signs of disease. They usually disappear on their own with the growth process.

🔹 Pathological Murmurs: They can be a symptom of serious conditions such as congenital heart diseases or valve problems. If the murmur is high-pitched, heard continuously, and accompanied by problems with the child's development, further examinations may be necessary.

If your child has a heart murmur, the best step would be to consult a pediatric cardiologist and have a detailed evaluation.