Congenital Heart Disease

Introduction “The study of prenatal stages of development, especially those occurring during the embryonic period, helps us to understand the normal relationships of adult body structures and the causes of congenital malformations” (10). A defect of the ventricular septum is perhaps the most significant common congenital cardiac abnormality, furthermore it accounts for about 30% of all forms of congenital heart disease (5). It has been stated that there is a possibility that a history of family respiratory disease could be the possible connection between chronic airway diseases such as asthma and genital heart diseases; ventricular septal defects. The latter two diseases can be contracted by a prenatal individual in a multitude of ways including

“A VSD is the most common type of heart malformation present at birth” (10). It is estimated that the majority of congenital defects can be explained on the basis of simple dominant or recessive inheritance, while 10 percent of them can be attribute to viral infections, intrinsic factors and or major chromosomal abnormalities (14). It has been shown that chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome can be attributed to the onset of a ventricular septal defect in an individual. Septal defects are the result of abnormal development of the interatrial septum. The latter resulting in a large opening in the septum between the left and right atria. Morphogenesis or the differentiation of cells and tissues that forms the embryo’s organs and parts, is an elaborate process and therefore, it is not surprising that malformations resulting from dysmorphogensis (abnormal) can occur

As respiratory distress is a common link between both congenital heart diseases and chronic airway disease such as asthma. Furthermore, the dormant coexistence of VSD’s and CHD’s could lead to the delayed diagnosis of one or the other diseases in the presence of an individual. The latter possibly resulting in the lack of needed medical treatment, and the further degeneration of the individuals health in respect to the prevalence of either or