Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 25: Around 41,000 children in Karnataka are affected by congenital heart disease (CHD), according to the state health department. Officials say early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial to reducing infant and under-five mortality.

CHD, the most common birth defect, occurs due to abnormal formation of the heart or blood vessels during foetal development. It can range from minor defects, such as small holes in the heart, to severe conditions like malformed valves or underdeveloped chambers.

The cases were identified through screenings under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). Children diagnosed are being treated under the Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka scheme, with referrals made to tertiary hospitals and institutions linked to the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) that provide free treatment.

To strengthen detection, the health department plans to integrate prenatal ultrasound scans with neonatal check-ups, ensuring high-risk infants are flagged early for monitoring. Officials believe this combined approach will allow doctors to detect cardiac abnormalities when treatments are most effective.

India records nearly two million newborns with congenital heart defects each year. About 8 in every 1,000 live births are affected, with surgical mortality rates still higher compared to high-income countries. Experts note that delayed diagnosis remains a major challenge, often resulting in missed opportunities for timely care.