One of the most difficult medical issues a child with Down syndrome can face is heart disease. In the not-to-distant past, children with Down syndrome faced bleak outcomes with a diagnosis of heart disease. But today, medical advances, particularly in cardiology and pediatric cardiology have enabled children with Down syndrome and heart disease to live long and happy lives. Please take a look at the web sites and links to learn more about advances in cardiology and what to expect if your child has a diagnosis of heart disease.

Links:

Tetrology of Fallot
http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/63.html

Atrial Septal Defects
http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/15.html

Ventricular Septal Defects
http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/69.html

PediHeart.org
http://www.pediheart.org/parents/defects/index.html

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

Recommended Reading:

Heart Disease in Persons with Down Syndrome
by B. Marino and S.M. Pueschel. Paul Brookes
Pub, 1996
"In collaboration with expert physicians from around the world, the authors have compiled a comprehensive medical resource devoted exclusively to congenital heart disease in children and adults with DS. Includes information and recent research findings on cardiac malformations and anomalies, heart and lung pathology, hemodynamic evaluations, and surgical intervention. Ideal for cardiologists, pediatricians, family physicians, educators and therapists."