Thanks Michelle
I think I'll look into this a little further. As always it's always great to
be able to go to you moms for advice :)
Tracy mom to Cody (Trisomy 9)
-------------- Original message --------------
> ----- 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
> Families Helping Families On-line
>
Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
www.trisomyonline.org
Families Helping Families On-line