KOCHI: The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) on Sunday conducted a meeting on paediatric cardiology to explore new ways to reduce congenital heart diseases in babies.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders in the field of paediatric cardiology. As per statistics, around 2.5 lakh newborns in the country are suffering from congenital heart diseases, of which about one lakh babies are affected seriously, necessitating medical attention in the first year itself.
“As newborns leave hospital in the first few days of birth, heart-related problems are often diagnosed later. If tests like pulse oximetry are conducted at the birth centre itself, such disease could be detected easily and remedial measures could be taken,” said AIIMS-Delhi head of paediatric cardiology Anita Saxena.
In Kerala, 1,300-1,500 newborns are diagnosed with serious heart diseases. “While there is a decline in infant mortality, heart diseases have emerged as a major paediatric issue in Kerala. “The Indian Academy of Pediatrics has identified defects of the heart at birth as a major contributor to infant deaths in the State,” said AIMS paediatric cardiology department head Dr Krishna Kumar.