The controversial treatment is used to delay pulmonary hypertension in infant boys and girls, as well as older children who have congenital heart problems.  

Presenting his findings on the use of Viagra on children at a one day regional medical conference  on advances in paediatric cardiology in Trinidad  Trinidad recently, Dr José Nunez indicated that the use of the drug has been successful.  Dr Nunez, who is based at the Gulf View Medical Centre, said there were at least 15 cases where babies and children as old as 15 were being treated with Viagra to delay pulmonary hypertension.  

"We inform the parents about why we are using it," he said. "There is minimal risk and we have gotten good results from them in terms of delaying the onset of pulmonary hypertension so that these children could go abroad and have surgery successfully."  

Viagra is popularly known for its use in treating men with erectile dysfunction. It was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998. More than 130 clinical trials were used to test the drug's safety.  

The June 14, 2005, issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association reported that physicians all over the world have found that the drug may help children suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.  "The erections you would get with Viagra would only happen if you are sexually stimulated, so with kids you don't really expect them to have this problem," assured Dr Nunez.

Source: The Jamaica Gleaner/Port-of-Spain (Trinidad Express):