Question
During the newborn check-up, the doctor said the baby has a heart murmur. Is this situation severe?
Answer
A heart murmur in a newborn may be a normal physiological phenomenon, such as an open ductus arteriosus, which usually closes naturally within 3 to 6 months after birth. Additionally, temporary murmurs can occur during conditions like childhood anemia, pneumonia, or acute infectious diseases. Children in the school age and early childhood may also have mild physiological heart murmurs, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate discomfort. Therefore, parents should not be overly concerned about their baby’s heart murmur.