Pediatric Cardiology and Children’s Heart Care in Nepal

Abstract

Pediatric cardiology is an established sphere of modern medicine; however, Nepal presently has limited facilities and skilled practitioners dedicated to this subspecialty of pediatric medicine. The purpose of this review is to analyze present status of pediatric cardiology and children’s heart care in Nepal. Observation of the children consulted and those admitted to the cardiac unit of Kanti Children’s Hospital (KCH), as well as the review of hospital records and existing scientific literature, have revealed that majority of cardiac diseases afflicting Nepalese children originate from infections that are preventable to a great extent. Congenital heart problems are the second leading source of cardiac disease in the Nepalese pediatric population. In order to develop pediatric cardiology as a successful field in Nepal in the coming years, the major issues to address include: early diagnosis, systematizing long-term antibiotic prophylaxis to patients who require it, improving referral and patient transportation securing, funding for the long hospital stays required, expenditure, training health personnel for the tender pre and post-surgical care, and expanding and improving patient and community heart health education. Several national and international organizations could provide important assistance for controlling the preventable and treatable infections associated with pediatric cardiac disease and heart defects as well as care of children with heart problems. Key Words: Children, congenital heart disease, heart, Nepal, pediatric cardiology, rheumatic heart disease.