Indore, February 12, 2024: Every year in India, approximately 240,000 children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). In Madhya Pradesh alone, around 18,500 children are born with this condition annually. CHD accounts for nearly 10% of infant mortality, underscoring the urgency to raise awareness about this ailment. To educate people about congenital heart defects, Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week is observed from February 7th to February 14th every year. Medanta Super Specialty Hospital in Indore has been successfully treating this condition for several years. On Monday, February 12, 2024, a special event was organized at Medanta Hospital where children treated for congenital heart disease were invited for a cake-cutting ceremony. These are the children who have battled congenital heart disease and are now leading healthy lives. Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava, Medical Director and Director of Cardiac Sciences at Medanta Super Specialty Hospital, explained, "Congenital heart disease can be caused by consanguineous marriage, delayed marriage, or advanced maternal age, and in some cases, it can occur spontaneously. With caution, congenital heart defects can be prevented to some extent. In most cases, surgery or other treatments can correct the defect. Ultrasound during pregnancy can determine if the baby's heart is healthy and free from any problems. The aim of this event is to detect this condition early so that treatment can be initiated promptly. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms of congenital heart disease for better prevention. Symptoms such as fever, rapid breathing, inward chest movement, recurrent chest infections could indicate heart disease in children." Dr. Shipra Shrivastava, Associate Director and Cardiac Surgeon at Medanta Hospital, added, "Congenital heart disease refers to a condition where there is a structural abnormality in the heart and its major vessels. This condition can lead to various difficulties in children. Some may have problems with heart valves, while others may have closure defects or leaks in the heart valves, affecting the heart's pumping ability. Early identification and initiation of treatment can prevent significant damage. Holes in the heart and valve obstruction can be successfully corrected without surgery (intervention). However, open-heart surgery is required for treating blue baby syndrome. Medanta Super Specialty Hospital has a skilled and competent team of doctors equipped with all the necessary information and treatment options for this awareness campaign on congenital heart disease." According to Dr. Simran Jain Ranganekar, Pediatric Interventional and Fetal Cardiologist at Medanta Super Specialty Hospital, "The development of a child's heart begins very early in pregnancy and is completed by about 8 to 10 weeks of gestation. If there is any disturbance during this crucial period, the child may be born with a heart defect. This is called congenital heart disease or congenital heart defect. It is a common birth defect, with approximately 8-12 children born with heart disease per 1000 births. Many types of congenital heart diseases exist, but they are commonly referred to as holes in the heart. Some small holes may close on their own over time. However, timely intervention is necessary for conditions that do not improve on their own to avoid serious complications." While some children affected by congenital heart disease may have minor issues that do not require treatment, others may need surgery or other interventions to survive. In such cases (open-heart surgery/closed-heart surgery) or non-surgical intervention (percutaneous interventions, such as ASD/PDA/AV fistula closure, balloon dilatation of aortic valve/pulmonary valve/coarctation of aorta, stenting of coarctation of aorta/pulmonary artery, etc.) can be employed.