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Show Innocent Murmurs Common In Children, Heart Assn. Says Innocent heart murmurs are so common in childhood that more than half of any group of 100 children are likely to have them some time between , the ages of 3 and 7 years, according to a new leaflet issued by the Utah Heart Association. Of particular interest to parents, par-ents, the leaflet "Innocent Heart Murmurs in Children," points out that murmurs described as "innocent" or "functional" are harmless. Such murmurs generally gen-erally disappear during adolescence. adoles-cence. Murmurs diagnosed as "organic," however, indicate that a heart disease or heart defect de-fect may be present. The term "murmur" simply means sounds produced by the circulation of blood , through the valves and chambers of the heart (other than those ordinarily heard). Innocent heart murumrs are sometimes difficult to diagnose, the leaflet explains and a restless, rest-less, sometimes apprehensive child is not easy to examine. For these reasons, more, than one examination may be needed to who, in turn, may wish to reexamine re-examine the child from time to time. But this does not necessarily neces-sarily mean that the child has a heart condition. Although children with innocent inno-cent murmurs require no special care or restrictions on normal activities, those in whom a murmur mur-mur is diagnosed as organic should be under the supervision of a physician. The leaflet says that early discovery and prompt treatment may make it possible for the heart condition that produces pro-duces the murmur to be improved, im-proved, arrested or corrected. Parents should always feel free to discuss with their doctor any doubts or fears that they may have about heart murmurs, the leaflet emphasizes. It adds that the doctor will be glad to explain the finds of a heart examination. ex-amination. In conclusion, the leaflet offers of-fers this reassurance to parents: "If you have been told that your child has an innocent or harmless harm-less murmur, you need not worry about him. He does not have heart disease nor is he more likely to have it than any other normal child." Copies of "Innocent Heart Murmurs in Children" may be obtained from the Utah Heart Association, 250 East First So., Salt Lake City, Utah. confirm that a murmur is innocent. inno-cent. Parents are forewarned that if a murmur is first detected by the school doctor, he will suggest sug-gest that the family physician make another check. The family physician may wish to consult a heart specialist |