Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Symptoms

Symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus may not occur until after the first weeks or months of life. If the opening is small and the child appears healthy, a PDA can be detected only upon further evaluation of a heart murmur. Infants who have a large PDA may exhibit different symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of PDA; however, children experience symptoms differently:

• A heart murmur
• Congestion in the lungs
• Rapid breathing
• Trouble breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Enlargement of the heart
• Tiring easily with exercise
• Prone to pneumonia
• Poor growth
• Disinterest in feeding or tiring while feeding
• Poor weight gain