characteristics of innocent childhood murmurs
Last reviewed 01/2018
- no other abnormality - just a murmur
- no thrill
- the murmur usually has characteristics listed below:
- heard over a local area
- does not radiate outside the praecordium
- of a short, low frequency
- occurs in early or midsystole
- never diastolic
- shows variation in intensity with changes in posture; may disappear completely with the Valsalva manoeuvre; sitting or deep inspiration makes the murmur quieter
- increased with tachycardia eg crying, anxiety
- ECG and chest X-ray normal
- child is asymptomatic
Reference:
- Radley-Smith (1993). Physical signs of congenital heart lesions. Medicine International, 21(10), 467-71.
clinical examination of the paediatric cardiovascular system