Symptoms of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Babies whose ductus arteriosus does not close may not have any symptoms unless their ductus is large and their heart and lungs are getting too much blood as a result.
If they have symptoms, they may have these:
- Fast breathing and fast heartbeat
- Working hard to breathe
- Trouble feeding
- Failure to thrive
- Getting more tired than normal
- Sweating
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Diagnosis
To diagnose this condition, your doctor will examine your child and use a stethoscope to listen to their heart. Sometimes doctors find patent ductus arteriosus after hearing a heart murmur in a child who appears well. They may not hear a murmur and not find the ductus problem until the child is older.
If your doctor suspects patent ductus arteriosus, your child will need an echocardiogram test so the doctor can see how their heart works. To get more information, your child may need other tests, like chest X-rays and electrocardiogram.