A two-month-old infant is brought to emergency depament with marked respiratory distress. On examination, the infant has cyanosis and bilateral crepitations. Hea rate is 180/min, respiratory rate 56/min and the liver span 7.5 cm. The child had repeated episodes of fever, cough and respiratory distress since the time of bih. Cardiovascular examination reveals a grade III ejection systolic murmur in left para-sternal area and the chest X-ray reveals cardiomegaly with a narrow base and plethoric lung fields. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A two-month-old infant is brought to emergency depament with marked respiratory distress. On examination, the infant has cyanosis and bilateral crepitations. Hea rate is 180/min, respiratory rate 56/min and the liver span 7.5 cm. The child had repeated episodes of fever, cough and respiratory distress since the time of bih. Cardiovascular examination reveals a grade III ejection systolic murmur in left para-sternal area and the chest X-ray reveals cardiomegaly with a narrow base and plethoric lung fields. What is the most likely diagnosis?
π‘ Explanation
**Core Concept**
The infant presents with signs of heart failure, respiratory distress, and a history of recurrent infections, suggesting a congenital heart defect that may be associated with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or other left-to-right shunt lesions.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The clinical presentation of heart failure, respiratory distress, and recurrent infections is suggestive of a congenital heart defect leading to pulmonary overcirculation. The presence of a grade III ejection systolic murmur in the left parasternal area and cardiomegaly with a narrow base and plethoric lung fields on chest X-ray are indicative of increased flow across the pulmonary valve, consistent with a left-to-right shunt lesion. The narrow base of the heart on chest X-ray is particularly suggestive of tricuspid atresia, a condition where the tricuspid valve is absent or abnormally developed, leading to right ventricular hypoplasia.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Tetralogy of Fallot typically presents with cyanosis, clubbing, and a harsh systolic ejection murmur due to pulmonary stenosis, not heart failure or respiratory distress.
**Option B:** Congenital rubella syndrome can cause heart defects, but the presentation would typically include additional features such as cataracts, hearing loss, and microcephaly.
**Option C:** Coarctation of the aorta typically presents with hypertension, diminished or delayed lower extremity pulses, and a murmur of coarctation, not heart failure or respiratory distress.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In infants with congenital heart defects, the presence of a murmur and cardiomegaly on chest X-ray can be indicative of increased flow across the pulmonary valve, suggesting a left-to-right shunt lesion.
**Correct Answer:** D. Tricuspid atresia.
β Correct Answer: B. Transposition of great aeries
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