Congenital Heart Disease (also referred to as Congenital Heart "Disorders", Congenital Heart "Defects" or just CHD) is not simply one disease, but an umbrella term which refers to any abnormality of the heart that is present at birth. Approximately 1% of all children are born with some form of CHD. In most cases, the origin of the disorder remains obscure. In some children, hereditary factors may have a role. In others the disorder may be a consequence of some viral infection, like German Measles, contracted by the mother during pregnancy. Certain conditions affecting multiple organs, such as Down's syndrome, can involve the heart, too. Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines, as well as alcohol and "street" drugs, may increase the risk of having a baby with a heart defect.
Often, a child born with CHD will have more than one specific disorder.

Congenital Heart Disorders may be classified according to the type of problems they incur: