Patna: Health experts on Saturday underlined the importance of timely detection of congenital heart disease through routine ultrasound screening of pregnant women, saying that early diagnosis can save children’s lives.Addressing a seminar on congenital heart disease, Dr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, director of Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital, said every pregnant woman should undergo a level-2 ultrasound to identify possible heart abnormalities in the foetus, enabling early treatment planning and safer delivery management.
He said a child heart disease awareness programme is observed worldwide from Feb 7 to Feb 14 to raise awareness about congenital heart disease and the need for prompt treatment. Experts estimate that congenital heart disease affects around 2% of the population, making early screening and referral a major public health priority.Dr Prabhat Kumar, head of the pediatric echocardiography department, said warning signs such as bluish discolouration of the body or lips during crying, repeated respiratory infections, breathlessness, restlessness or rapid heartbeat should not be ignored, and immediate heart screening should be conducted.The hospital also provided special training to 50 nurses on early detection and care to strengthen timely identification and treatment. The seminar was attended by additional director Dr Lakhindra Prasad, obstetrics and gynaecology head Dr Anamika Pandey, paediatricians Dr Vinay Ranjan and Dr Vivek Pandey, deputy director Murari Prasad Sinha, and other doctors and healthcare workers.
