A heart murmur is an extra or abnormal sound that happens when the heart pumps blood. Your child's healthcare provider can hear the murmur when listening to your child's heart with a stethoscope. Heart murmurs are common in children, and are most often a normal part of their growth. At some point, just about every child will have a heart murmur. A heart murmur usually doesn't mean that your child has a serious health issue. But in rare cases, a heart murmur can be a sign of a serious condition. That's why it's important for your child to see a cardiologist. A cardiologist can find out if your child's murmur is caused by a problem in his or her heart, or if it's nothing to worry about.
Kawasaki disease causes inflammation of the blood vessels, including those of the heart. It most often resolves without lasting damage. But, sometimes it can cause ongoing heart problems.
The heart makes sounds as the heart valves open and close to allow blood to flow through the heart. When blood does not flow smoothly through the heart or heart valves, it causes the noise. This is called turbulence. Heart murmurs can be harmless (innocent) or caused by a heart problem (pathologic).
Heart murmurs are extra or unusual sounds made by blood moving through the heart. Many children have heart murmurs. Some cause no problems or go away over time. Others need treatment.
