Prevalence of innocent murmurs in preschool children in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

Among 500 normal preschool children included in this study, innocent cardiac murmurs were detected in 270 cases [54%]. Venous hum was heard in 19.6% of examined children. The age group 5-6 years showed the highest prevalence rate of innocent cardiac murmurs 64% of all examined children of that age. Sex proved to have no influence on the prevalence of innocent murmurs. Murmurs heard on the pulmonary area [30%] and along left sternal border [48.15%] had generally a non musical character in contrast to lower parasternal murmurs [21.85%] which were mostly musical. E.C.G., phonocardiogram and radiograms were done for 50 cases with innocent murmurs and 50 murmur-free children chosen randomly. Their results are discussed