The Patter n of Acquired Heart Disease in Nigerian Children

Abstract

The results of a prospective study of acquired heart disease in Nigerian children from birth to age 5 years for a period of 4years are presented. The three common acquired heart disorders were rheumatic heart disease, idiopathic cardiomegaly and endomyocardial fibrosis. The less common disorders included tuberculous and pyogenic myopericarditis and left ventricular submitral aneurysm. Although heart failure was present in all these disorders, it was possible to make accurate diagnosis based on the clinical features, chest radiographs and electrocardiograms