Brazil's Red September campaign is urging parents and doctors to pay closer attention to heart health from infancy, warning that early diagnosis is key to treating cardiovascular disease and improving patients' quality of life.
While heart problems are often linked to adults, the campaign stresses that children need close monitoring too, since congenital heart defects are among the leading causes of cardiac complications in young patients.
Pediatrician Michelle Loyola, a specialist in pediatric cardiology, said changes in how the heart forms can occur during pregnancy itself. She said congenital heart defects are present from the earliest stages of the heart's formation, which is why prenatal exams matter so much, as some of these conditions can be picked up during pregnancy through ultrasound or fetal echocardiogram.
Newborn Screening
Loyola said that once a baby is born, it is essential for the pediatrician to carry out a clinical evaluation known in Brazil as the Teste do Coraçãozinho, or "little heart test." The screening uses pulse oximetry and is important for identifying certain critical congenital heart defects soon after birth.
Prevention and Warning Signs
The campaign also notes that other heart conditions can develop later in childhood, including myocarditis, some arrhythmias and changes to the heart valves. Because of this, regular pediatric checkups are important for catching any changes early.
According to the campaign, signs in children that deserve attention include difficulty feeding, tiredness or shortness of breath, excessive sweating during feeding, poor weight gain, a bluish or purplish tint to the lips or skin, and palpitations or fainting.
Beyond regular medical follow-up, the campaign recommends a balanced diet, age-appropriate physical activity and adequate sleep, along with keeping track of a child's growth, weight and blood pressure.
Red September is an annual Brazilian awareness campaign focused on cardiovascular disease, running alongside similar color-coded health campaigns held throughout the year in Brazil to promote screening and prevention for specific conditions.
