Sulafa Km Ali
University of Sharjah.
United Arab Emirates
World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics
World J Clin Pediatr 2026; 15:
DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.115168
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) in the pediatric population is unique because it involves heterogeneous groups of diseases, including congenital and acquired conditions. The etiology of HF varies with age and sociodemographic origin. In low-income countries, unoperated congenital heart diseases are common, leading to a high prevalence of infants with HF and older children with Eisenmenger syndrome. In addition, rheumatic heart diseases are prevalent, leading to advanced HF in children. Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and schistosomiasis add to the burden of heart diseases through complications, including pericarditis and pulmonary hypertension. In tropical regions, cardiomyopathies (e.g., endomyocardial fibrosis) have unique causes that have been linked to tropical parasitic infections. The management of pediatric HF is constrained by challenges such as late diagnosis and poor access to medical and interventional therapies. Point-of-care ultrasound holds promise for improving early diagnosis, but appropriate training is required for its use. This study reviews the diagnosis and management of HF, with an emphasis on the limitations encountered in low-resource settings.
Category
Heart Dysfunction Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease (Right and Left)
Other: Social Determinants of Health
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes