ABSTRACT
Epidemiology of Congenital heart disease [CHD] up to date has not been fully determined nor it received the attention it warrants. Knowledge of epidemiology of CHD is the basis for planning of preventive and curative strategies. To estimate proportion of CHD among children attending pediatric clinics of Benha University Hospital and to identify risk factors that may predispose for its occurrence. The present is a cross - sectional study was conducted on children attending outpatient pediatric clinics of Benha University Hospital during the period from March 2009 to February 2010. Out of 6766 attendants, 426 cases are referred to echocardiography unit where 145 confirmed cases of CHD are identified to be compared with 320 cases of children not having CHD and were selected randomly. Questionnaire sheets were used in addition to Medical examination and laboratory investigations. The study revealed that the proportion of CHD among children attended pediatric clinic was 2.14%. Ventricular septal defect [29.65%], ASD 17.53% and PAD [12.41%] are the most common CHD detected. More than half of cases of CHD [62.76%] are detected at infancy and male predominance was found in VSD and AS. An association was found between family history [OR=1.83, 95% CI = 1.05 - 3.16], consanguinity [OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.66 - 2.13] and occurrence of CHD. Also an association was found between maternal risk factors such as of drug intake [OR = 2.5, 95% CI =1.6 - 3.94], exposure to febrile illness [OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 0.82 - 3.91] and exposure to radiation [X-ray] [OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.54 - 3.67] during pregnancy and CHD. CHD is a public health problem among infants and young children and there are many risk factors showed a significant effect on its occurrence such as positive family history, consanguinity and material risk factors during pregnancy such as drug intake, exposure to radiation and febrile illness during pregnancy. Integrated effects from all concerned authorities [medical, social] to be directed to the families especially pregnant women to raise awareness and health education to avoid risk factors that have a role in occurrence of the problem and raise attention of doctors for early detection of CHD for proper management