Innocent Murmurs (1)

Question 1

What are these also known as?

Why are they so common in children?

What are its typical features?

What in the hx is important to know?
→ Why is this important?

Answer 1

➊ Flow murmurs

➋ They have very fast, turbulent blood flow

➌ 5 F’s:
• Soft
• Short
• Systolic – all diastolic are pathological
• Symptomless
• Situation-dependent – quieter on standing or comes with illness

➍ Any current illness?
→ • Murmur can be made more prominent during it, so best to review once child has recovered
• If the murmur resolves with the illness, it’s in keeping with an innocent murmur

Question 2

Which features shout prompt investigations?

Which investigations should be done?

Answer 2

➊ Loud, Diastolic, Lounder on standing, Symptomatic (failure to thrive, difficulty feeding, cyanosis, sob)

➋ • ECG
• Echo
• CXR