Pediatric Cardiologist in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is pediatric cardiology?
Pediatric cardiology is the branch of medicine that looks after the hearts of babies, children and teenagers. A child's heart is still growing, and many heart findings in childhood are different from those in adults: some are simply normal sounds of a healthy heart, some are conditions a child is born with, and some are rhythm problems that come and go. A pediatric cardiologist is a doctor trained specifically in how children's hearts develop and how to examine them at every age.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, pediatric cardiology is led by a specialist pediatric cardiologist working with the Pediatrics team, so your child's heart is assessed alongside their growth and general health.
Who needs it
Most children are referred to a pediatric cardiologist because a doctor heard a heart murmur at a routine check-up. The most reassuring fact for parents is this: most murmurs in children are innocent, meaning they are the normal sound of blood flowing through a healthy heart. They are common, especially during a fever or a growth spurt, and a pediatric cardiologist can usually confirm an innocent murmur at the first visit.
Other reasons for an appointment include:
- A heart condition picked up on a pregnancy scan or soon after birth
- In a baby: poor feeding, sweating or tiring during feeds, fast breathing, or slow weight gain
- Fainting, or chest pain during exercise or sport
- Palpitations, or a heartbeat that feels very fast or irregular
- A close family member with an inherited heart condition, or a sudden unexplained death at a young age
- Heart questions raised at a sports medical, or before starting competitive sport
- Follow-up after Kawasaki disease, an illness of childhood that can affect the heart's arteries
What happens
The appointment starts with a conversation about the pregnancy and birth, feeding and growth, symptoms, activity and family history. The pediatric cardiologist then examines your child, listening to the heart in several positions, checking pulses in the arms and legs, and measuring oxygen levels with a small clip on a finger or toe.
An ECG records the heart's electrical rhythm through small sticky pads on the chest and takes only a few minutes. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart: gel is placed on the chest and a small probe moves over it to show the heart's chambers, valves and blood flow on a screen. Both tests are painless and use no radiation, so they are safe for newborns and can be repeated as a child grows.
Young children stay calmer during the scan when they are comfortable. Babies often settle best if they are fed during or just before the echo, and toddlers can watch a favourite video or hold a familiar toy. If palpitations come and go, a portable Holter monitor may be arranged to record the rhythm over a day or longer.
You leave with an explanation of what was found and what happens next, whether that is reassurance, follow-up visits as your child grows, or a treatment plan. When a child needs heart surgery or a catheter procedure, the pediatric cardiologist arranges referral to a specialist pediatric cardiac centre and continues to follow your child locally.
Preparing for it
Bring your child's health record, any previous ECGs, echo reports or discharge letters, and the pregnancy scan report if a heart finding was seen before birth. Note any symptoms with dates, and if your child has had palpitations or a fast heartbeat, a phone video of the child or a pulse reading taken at the time is very useful.
Dress your child in clothes that open easily at the front, such as a two-piece outfit. For a baby, bring a feed and a spare nappy; for a toddler, bring a snack, a comforter and a tablet or phone with a favourite programme. Explain the visit simply to older children: the doctor will listen to their heart and take pictures with a camera that uses jelly on the skin.
Afterwards
Most children go straight back to normal life after the appointment, including school, play and sport, unless the cardiologist gives you specific advice. If a condition needs monitoring, follow-up visits are planned around your child's growth, and your cardiologist tells you what signs to watch for at home.
Contact the clinic if your child's symptoms change, if a baby starts feeding less or gaining weight slowly, or if you have questions about medicines. Go to the emergency department straight away if a baby has blue or grey lips or tongue, is breathing fast or struggling to breathe during feeds, or if a child faints during exercise or has chest pain with fainting. Call emergency services immediately if a child collapses, becomes very pale, floppy or unresponsive. The pediatric emergency page explains what happens when you arrive.
Cost and insurance
Pediatric cardiology consultations, ECGs and echocardiograms are covered by most UAE health insurance plans when a doctor has a clinical reason for the assessment, such as a murmur or symptoms. Screening checks requested only for sport or school are sometimes paid directly, and some policies need a referral letter. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your child's cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is a heart murmur in my child serious?
Most heart murmurs in children are innocent, meaning they are the normal sound of blood flowing through a healthy heart and need no treatment. A pediatric cardiologist can usually tell an innocent murmur from one caused by a heart condition through examination and, where needed, an echocardiogram.
Are the heart tests safe for my baby?
An ECG and an echocardiogram are painless and use no radiation, so they are safe for newborns and young children and can be repeated as often as needed. The only discomfort is the cool gel and lying still, which is easier if a baby is fed or a toddler watches a favourite video.
What are the risks and limitations of a child's heart assessment?
A single visit gives a clear picture of the heart at that moment, but some findings change as a child grows, so an echocardiogram may need repeating over time. Rhythm problems that come and go may not appear during a short ECG and sometimes need a longer recording, and some conditions need long-term follow-up into adulthood.
Can my child play sport after seeing a pediatric cardiologist?
Most children seen by a pediatric cardiologist can play sport normally, including those with an innocent murmur. If a condition affects exercise, the cardiologist explains which activities are suitable and when to review the advice as your child grows.
What happens if my child needs heart surgery?
If a child needs heart surgery or a catheter procedure, the pediatric cardiologist at Dar Al Kamal Hospital arranges referral to a specialist pediatric cardiac centre and explains each step to the family. The cardiologist usually continues to follow your child locally before and after the procedure.
When should I take my child to the emergency department for a heart problem?
Go to the emergency department straight away if a baby has blue or grey lips or tongue or struggles to breathe during feeds, or if a child faints during exercise or has chest pain with fainting. Call emergency services immediately if a child collapses or becomes floppy or unresponsive.
Is a pediatric cardiology appointment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover a pediatric cardiology consultation, ECG and echocardiogram when there is a clinical reason, such as a murmur or symptoms, while checks for sport or school alone are sometimes self-funded. Confirm your child's cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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