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Causes of Congenital heart disease

In most cases of congenital heart disease, the cause is unknown. Some heart conditions in babies are due to faulty genes. This means that a heart condition could be passed down from the mother or father through the genes.

Sometimes congenital heart disease is the result of the mother’s health during pregnancy.  If she has diabetes, for example, there is a small chance it could affect the baby’s heart.

Illegal drugs and some prescribed drugs taken during pregnancy, as well as alcohol and smoking, can also have an affect.

Other causes include viral infections early in pregnancy, such as German Measles (Rubella) and chromosomal problems affecting the child such as Down’s Syndrome.