Symptoms:

A small PDA may not cause any symptoms. However, most infants do not tolerate a PDA and may have symptoms such as:

• Bounding pulse
• Fast breathing
• Poor feeding habits
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating while feeding
• Tiring very easily
• Poor growth

Signs and tests:

Babies with PDA often have a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with a stethoscope. However, in premature infants, a heart murmur may not be heard. Doctor's may suspect the condition if the infant has breathing or feeding problems soon after birth.

Changes may be seen on chest x-rays. The diagnosis is confirmed with an echocardiogram.

Sometimes, a small PDA may not be diagnosed until later in childhood.