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Heart Problems /
Innocent or Benign Murmurs
01 In Brief
A heart murmur is a sound that is heard by a doctor when they listen to the heart with a stethoscope. An innocent murmur is often detected during a routine examination and results from the sound produced by turbulence of normal blood flow through the heart. A paediatrician is usually able to determine whether any further tests are required. Innocent or benign murmurs are often much louder during an illnesses associated with high fever and as the heart pumps the blood harder resulting in the murmur sounding louder than usual. The doctor will often request a repeat examination to reassess the murmur when the child is well.
02 What Others Say
- The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Department of Cardiology has an excellent fact sheet on innocent murmurs
- University of Chicago paediatric cardiology the patients and parents
- Cincinnati children's Art Institute fact sheet
- About Kids health, hospital for sick Children Toronto: overview of the heart, interactive section where each anatomical part of the heart is highlighted
Heart Anatomy from aboutkidshealth
03 I Want To Know More
- Kids health fact sheet on heart murmurs covers topics such as the heart and how it works, what is a heart murmur, what happens if you have a heart murmur, and what do doctors do.
Parent fact sheet heart murmurs and your child
- Aboutkidshealth
04 Clinicians Tools and Resources
- American family physician:1999; 60:558- 65.
Heart murmurs in paediatric patients: when do you refer
- The university of Chicago: paediatric cardiology and medical professionals
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
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Last updated: 18/01/2011