Symptoms of a ventricular septal defect in an adult may include:

• Chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Heart palpitations
• Faintness on exertion
• Shortness of breath with exertion

Symptoms of a ventricular septal defect in an infant may include:

• Shortness of breath while feeding
• Failure to thrive

Symptoms of a worsening ventricular septal defect may include:

• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath at rest
• Shortness of breath at nighttime
• Leg swelling (bilateral)
• Fainting
• Lethargy:
• Excessive sleepiness
• Confusion