Symptoms

Patent ductus arteriosus symptoms vary with the size of the defect and whether the baby is full term or premature. A small PDA might cause no signs or symptoms and go undetected for some time — even until adulthood. A large PDA can cause signs of heart failure soon after birth.

Your baby's doctor might first suspect a heart defect during a regular checkup after hearing a heart murmur while listening to your baby's heart through a stethoscope.

A large PDA found during infancy or childhood might cause:

• Poor eating, which leads to poor growth
• Sweating with crying or eating
• Persistent fast breathing or breathlessness
• Easy tiring
• Rapid heart rate

When to see a doctor

Contact the doctor if your baby or older child:

• Tires easily when eating or playing
• Isn't gaining weight
• Becomes breathless when eating or crying
• Always breathes rapidly or is short of breath