What does a grade 2 heart murmur in newborns mean?

May 10, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
A grade 2 heart murmur in a newborn refers to a relatively mild but easily audible murmur. It may be a physiological murmur caused by the heart and blood vessels adapting to the new environment after birth. Alternatively, it could be a pathological murmur due to congenital heart disease, such as atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus, which cause abnormal blood flow within the heart and produce such sounds.

Neonatal grade 2 heart murmur refers to a relatively mild but easily audible murmur. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Neonatal heart murmurs are classified into six grades, with grade 2 indicating a soft murmur that is easily heard. This phenomenon may be due to physiological murmurs caused by the heart and blood vessels adapting to the new environment after birth. Alternatively, it could be pathological murmurs resulting from congenital heart diseases such as atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus, which cause abnormal blood flow within the heart and produce audible sounds.

When the above situation occurs, it is recommended that patients actively undergo relevant examinations under the guidance of a pediatrician to determine the underlying cause and receive timely management, thus preventing any adverse impact on growth and development.


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