Heart Murmurs

Most heart murmurs do not show symptoms. Instead, they are detected by a pediatrician or primary care provider during a physical exam.

Common causes of heart murmurs in children include:

• Faster blood flow in healthy, active children (“innocent” murmurs)
• Normal changes during growth spurts
• Temporary conditions such as fever or anemia
• Small structural differences in the heart, such as minor valve variations or small holes

Innocent murmurs are especially common in childhood. One common benign murmur is called a Still’s murmur, which many children outgrow.

Most children are referred for murmur evaluation after a provider hears an unusual sound during an exam. During your appointment:

• Our medical assistants or nurses will check your child’s height, weight, and vital signs.
• A pediatric cardiologist will take a detailed history and listen carefully to your child’s heart.

Pediatric cardiologists are specially trained to distinguish innocent murmurs from those that may require further testing. Often, the diagnosis can be made through careful listening and examination alone.

If the murmur sounds different from a typical innocent murmur, we may order an:

• Echocardiogram (ECHO). An ultrasound of the heart that evaluates structure and function.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG). A test that checks the heart’s electrical activity.

These tests are painless and noninvasive. If imaging is performed, we review the results with you and explain what they mean before you leave.