Pediatric Cardiologist: What They Do & When Your Child Needs One
Quick answer: A pediatric cardiologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats heart and blood-vessel conditions in babies, children and teenagers. Children are usually referred to one by their pediatrician for a heart murmur, a heart defect found before or after birth, an irregular heartbeat, fainting, or chest pain with exercise. Most visits involve a physical exam, an ECG and often an echocardiogram (a painless ultrasound of the heart), and many children who are referred turn out to have a healthy heart.
What is a pediatric cardiologist?
A pediatric cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart conditions in infants, children and adolescents, and sometimes in young adults born with heart disease. They care for both congenital heart disease (heart problems a child is born with) and acquired heart disease (problems that develop later, such as myocarditis or Kawasaki disease), as well as abnormal heart rhythms.
A child’s heart is not simply a small adult heart. Its structure, normal heart rate and blood pressure change as a child grows, and many pediatric heart conditions are rare in adults. That is why children are best evaluated by a cardiologist trained specifically in pediatrics.
Pediatric cardiologist at a glance
| Who they treat | Unborn babies (fetal cardiology), newborns, children and teens, and some adults with congenital heart disease |
| Training | Medical school (4 years) + pediatrics residency (3 years) + pediatric cardiology fellowship (3 years or more) |
| Board certification | American Board of Pediatrics, in General Pediatrics and the Pediatric Cardiology subspecialty |
| Common reasons for referral | Heart murmur, congenital heart defect, irregular heartbeat, fainting, chest pain with exercise, family history of heart disease |
| Common tests | ECG, echocardiogram, Holter or event monitor, exercise stress test, cardiac MRI, cardiac catheterization |
| Who does heart surgery | A pediatric (congenital) heart surgeon; the cardiologist diagnoses, monitors and coordinates care |
What conditions does a pediatric cardiologist treat?
Pediatric cardiologists treat a wide range of heart conditions. According to the CDC, congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting about 1 in 100 babies born in the United States. Conditions they commonly manage include:
- Heart murmurs: extra sounds heard through a stethoscope. Most are harmless (“innocent”) murmurs; a cardiologist confirms which are not. Learn more about heart murmurs in children.
- Congenital heart defects: such as atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), tetralogy of Fallot and Ebstein’s anomaly.
- Arrhythmias: heartbeats that are too fast, too slow or irregular, including SVT and long QT syndrome. See arrhythmias in children.
- Fainting (syncope): usually harmless, but fainting during exercise needs a heart evaluation. See syncope in children.
- Acquired heart disease: including myocarditis, Kawasaki disease, rheumatic heart disease and cardiomyopathy.
- Pulmonary hypertension: high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries. See pulmonary hypertension in children.
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol in children, especially with a family history.
For a deeper look, read top concerns in pediatric cardiology.
When should my child see a pediatric cardiologist?
Your pediatrician will usually make the referral. Common reasons include:
- A heart murmur that sounds unusual or comes with other symptoms
- A heart problem seen on a prenatal ultrasound, or an abnormal newborn pulse-oximetry screen
- Fainting or near-fainting during exercise, or chest pain with exertion
- A racing, pounding or skipped heartbeat (palpitations)
- In babies: poor feeding, sweating or tiring with feeds, fast breathing, or slow weight gain
- A family history of sudden death at a young age, cardiomyopathy or inherited rhythm problems
- A genetic condition linked to heart defects, such as Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome or 22q11.2 deletion
Call 911 right away if your child turns blue or gray around the lips, has severe trouble breathing, collapses or faints and does not wake up quickly, or has chest pain with fainting. Here is a full list of symptoms to watch for in kids with heart conditions.
What happens at a pediatric cardiology appointment?
A first visit usually takes one to two hours. The cardiologist reviews your child’s history and family history, checks vital signs and oxygen level, and listens carefully to the heart. Most tests are painless and child-friendly:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): stickers on the chest record the heart’s electrical activity in a few minutes.
- Echocardiogram: an ultrasound that shows the heart’s structure and blood flow. Young children may watch a show to stay still.
- Holter or event monitor: a small wearable recorder that captures heart rhythm over a day or several weeks.
- Exercise stress test: for older children, recording the heart while walking or running on a treadmill.
- Cardiac MRI or CT, and cardiac catheterization: used when more detailed images or treatment are needed. Some defects can now be repaired through a catheter instead of open-heart surgery.
Tips to prepare: bring a list of symptoms and when they happen, any medications, prior test results, and your family’s heart history. Dress your child in a two-piece outfit so chest stickers are easy to place, and bring a favorite toy or tablet.
Living with a heart condition
Many children with heart conditions live full, active lives with regular follow-up. Your cardiologist will advise on sports, medications, dental care and when to recheck. See our guides on caring for children with heart conditions and physical activity for kids with heart conditions.
How do I find a pediatric cardiologist near me?
Ask your pediatrician for a referral, check which specialists your insurance covers, and look for board certification in Pediatric Cardiology. Children with complex heart defects are often best cared for at a children’s hospital with a dedicated heart center.
Every listing in the Pediatric.me directory is NPI-verified from the U.S. federal registry. You can also compare other types of pediatricians.
Frequently asked questions
What does a pediatric cardiologist do?
A pediatric cardiologist diagnoses and manages heart conditions in babies, children and teens. They order and read tests such as ECGs and echocardiograms, prescribe medications, perform catheter procedures, and work with pediatric heart surgeons when surgery is needed.
Does a referral to a pediatric cardiologist mean something is wrong?
Not necessarily. Many referrals are for heart murmurs or chest pain, and most of these children are found to have a normal heart. The visit is often about ruling out a problem and giving you peace of mind.
What is the difference between a pediatric cardiologist and a pediatric heart surgeon?
A pediatric cardiologist diagnoses heart conditions and treats them with monitoring, medication and catheter-based procedures. A pediatric cardiothoracic (congenital heart) surgeon performs open-heart operations. The two usually work together as a team.
How long does it take to become a pediatric cardiologist?
Usually about 10 years after college: four years of medical school, three years of pediatric residency, and at least three years of pediatric cardiology fellowship. Many then complete extra training in areas like electrophysiology, imaging or interventional cardiology.
Is an echocardiogram safe for babies?
Yes. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound, the same technology used during pregnancy. It involves no radiation and no needles. The main challenge is keeping a young child still, so cardiologists often use videos, feeding or, rarely, mild sedation.
Until what age do children see a pediatric cardiologist?
Most see a pediatric cardiologist until about 18 to 21. Young people with congenital heart disease then transition to an adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) specialist for lifelong care.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always talk with your child’s pediatrician or cardiologist about their specific situation. If you think your child is having a medical emergency, call 911.
