Which signs are commonly observed in infants with heart failure?

• A. Tachypnea, retractions, grunting, and poor feeding
• B. Worsening headaches
• C. Bradycardia at rest
• D. Polyuria

Answer: (A)

Infants with heart failure typically show signs of pulmonary congestion and reduced perfusion. Rapid breathing with chest wall retractions and sometimes grunting occur as the lungs become fluid-filled and the infant works harder to breathe. Poor feeding is common because fatigue from breathing efforts makes it hard to feed adequately, and this can lead to inadequate weight gain. Together, these signs accurately reflect the respiratory distress and decreased intake that many infants with heart failure experience.

Worsening headaches aren’t a typical presentation in infants, who can’t verbalize headaches, and would suggest different problems. Bradycardia at rest is not the usual pattern; infants with heart failure more often exhibit tachycardia as the heart tries to compensate. Polyuria isn’t a characteristic sign of infant heart failure; while decreased kidney perfusion can occur, polyuria is not a typical feature.