by Answerbag Staff on October 18th, 2009
Tetralogy of Fallot involves four heart defects that contribute to one cardiovascular condition in infants.
The defects that cause Tetralogy of Fallot are narrowing of the valve that separates the lower right chamber of the heart from the lungs, a hole in the walls that separate the two lower chambers of the heart, a shift in the placement of the main artery that delivers blood to the rest of the body from the heart and thickening of the heart muscle.
Together, the four heart defects that cause Tetralogy of Fallot restrict blood flow to the lungs and the rest of the body and cause inefficiency that makes the heart overwork and become stiff and weak over time.
Symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot include a bluish skin tone due to lack of oxygen in the body, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fainting, clubbed fingers and toes, lack of appetite, poor weight gain, tiring easily and irritability. Rarely, babies experience Tet spells, or a sudden deep blue color of the skin, nails and lips after crying, feeding or waking up.
Mothers over 40 years of age, who have infections like rubella during pregnancy or who abuse alcohol are more likely to have a baby with Tetralogy of Fallot, according to the Mayo Clinic. Parents who had Tetralogy of Fallot are also more likely to have children with the same condition. In the majority of cases, however, an exact cause of the heart defects that contribute to Tetralogy of Fallot is not determinable.
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