A 6-year-old reports dizziness and exercise intolerance. What condition might the nurse suspect?

The scenario of a 6-year-old experiencing dizziness and exercise intolerance raises suspicion for aortic stenosis, which is a narrowing of the aortic valve that can impede blood flow from the heart to the body. This condition can lead to a variety of symptoms, particularly during physical activity, as the heart struggles to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet the increased demands of exercise.

Children with aortic stenosis may often exhibit symptoms such as exertional dyspnea, dizziness, and syncope due to reduced cardiac output during exertion. The hallmark of aortic stenosis includes a characteristic systolic ejection murmur that may be audible during a physical examination, further supporting the diagnosis.

While other conditions listed, such as ventricular septal defect (VSD), mitral valve prolapse, and tricuspid atresia, can also present with some degree of heart-related symptoms, they typically manifest differently or may not prominently feature exercise intolerance and dizziness in the same acute manner as aortic stenosis does. For instance, VSD may involve more significant heart failure symptoms, mitral valve prolapse can cause palpitations or atypical chest pain, and tricuspid atresia is often associated with more profound cyanosis and a