Bacterial Endocarditis
Serious but Preventable

Bacterial Endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves and the inner lining of the heart structures. Kids and adults who have congenital heart defects are susceptible to this serious infection, even after surgical repair. Symptoms include:

• persistent low-grade fever
• weight loss
• night sweats
• paleness
• a general feeling of illness

If your child gets this painful infection, he or she will have to go to the hospital for quite a while.

The best cure for this is prevention. The American Heart Association recommends antibiotics before any surgery that will cause bleeding, including (and probably most important) dental procedures. The AHA offers a free wallet card that you can print out with all the antibiotic information on it, including how much your child needs to take and when.

Before you allow any dentist, dental hygienist, or surgeon do any kind of procedure on your child, it's a good idea to let them know your child with Down syndrome is at risk.

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