ABSTRACT
Valvular disease in children is mostly congenital, although rheumatic fever accounts for mitral stenosis in many children in developing countries. Valves may be regurgitant, stenosed or atretic. Complete atresia interrupting normal blood flow is life threatening in contrast to some stenoses which can be quite mild and where operation can be safely postponed for years. Although mild regurgitation may take years to become severe, timely intervention may avoid cardiac enlargement and failure.
