[tri-med] Re: (no subject)

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxx 
  Why does Alex need to take antibiotics prior to dental work?
  We were told when Cody was born that he has a murmur, but had forgotten all 
about it until a doctor two months at U of M asked us if we knew Cody had a 
heart murmur.  
  ________

  First off let me say I am by no means an expert on the heart murmur subject.

  Many people with heart murmurs take antibiotics prior to dental work. My Mom 
does too. 

  There are different reasons for heart murmurs. Narrowed valves, malformed or 
disfunctioning valves, backflow of blood from inside the heart etc. 
  And not all murmurs necessitate antibiotics before  procedures. 
  Some heart murmurs are called 'innocent murmurs' where the sound is heard but 
the valves look fine. 

  It's my understanding that the sound has nothing to do with the diagnosis of 
the TYPE of murmur, you need to have imaging done (echo cardiogram for example) 
to 'see' the heart structure and function to determine why there is a murmur 
being heard. 

  There is a danger to defective valves (or other heart issues) for infection 
because the blood flow goes both ways (in AND out) and not just the direction 
is should be. The bacteria then passes into the heart. 

  Depending on the type of murmur the cardiologist will suggest an antibiotic 
prior to dental work and depending on the severity/condition of the murmur 
other medical procedures. 

  For example dental work: cleaning the teeth or other work loosens bacteria 
that lies beneath the gums. With all that extra bacteria floating around there 
is a risk (slight  risk is my understanding) that the patient can developed 
Bacterial Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart) after entering the blood 
stream. 
  It can damage the heart, necessitate surgery or even be fatal. 
  Alex's dentist (when he was a youth and the kids went to a pediatric dental 
college for cleanings) had a dental school classmate die of bacterial 
endocarditis, he knew he had a murmur but didn't believe he needed antibiotics 
and after they were all 'practicing' dental work on each other he got sick and 
died. 

  Other bacterial infections (such as strep throat) should be taken more 
seriously for the same reason. 

  I know there's more to it but those are just the basics of what I know. 

  Michelle mom to Alex (18, partial trisomy 14 mosaic) and Molly (14)
  MichiganUSA

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
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