Care of Children with Hole in the Heart

Written by: Muhammad Nasir Sirat Sirat

According to the information provided by the Afghan Red Cross Society, about 16230 children with Ventricular septal defect have referred to that organ for treatment from 2008 till now. Besides treatment, these children need care too and if we do not take care of them, they might face some crucial problems.

 AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and physician about this disease.

Muhammad Daud, a resident of Hilmand province says: “My daughter is suffering from a hole in the heart. As I don’t have a good economic condition, I did not take care of her. She always becomes sick; she doesn’t have an appetite; lost her weight and could not walk easily.”

Ismail, a resident of Kandahar province says: “I have a hole in my heart. I could not breathe easily; I do not have an appetite; I feel always nervous and if I want to go somewhere, I could not walk.”

Fatima Aziz, a cardiologist at Afghan Red Cross Hospital, Kabul city says: “

Asthma; do not breastfeed; crying; lack of appetite; weight loss and pneumonia are the common symptoms of Ventricular septal defect. These children need more attention, otherwise, their health condition would get worse and could not be treated easily and even they might die.”

How could parents take care of these children?

Rahmatullah, a resident of Khaki-Jabar district, Kabul province says: “My daughter was suffering from the hole in the heart. Her surgical operation passed successfully. I always give her medicines according to the prescription of the physician; we all have good behavior with her and we keep her always happy. We also take care of her foods and give her vegetables and fresh fruits more. Now she is better.”

Abdul Aleem, a resident of Ghorband district, Parwan province says: “My son suffers from the hole in the heart. I do not let them go to a room if there is a patient of contiguous disease in the room. I keep him away from dust and very cold weather and I do not let him for hard playing and weight lifting.”

Doctor Khorshid Aslami, a cardiologist at Indira Gandhi’s Children Hospital, Kabul city says: “Parents make sure that the temperature of the room is mild; avoid taking them to the restaurants, separate them from contagious disease patients; properly handle their meals, especially vegetables, and should always keep them happy.

If breastfed babies have this problem, mothers should breastfeed when they are hungry, and give them the medicines according to the doctor's instructions….”