Myocarditis (patient information): Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Varun Kumar (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Myocarditis (patient information)}} | ||
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Myocarditis|here]]''' | '''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Myocarditis|here]]''' | ||
| Line 12: | Line 11: | ||
*Abnormal heartbeat | *Abnormal heartbeat | ||
*Chest pain that may resemble a heart attack | *Chest pain that may resemble a heart attack | ||
*Fatigue | *[[Fatigue]] | ||
*Fever and other signs of infection including headache, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or rashes | *Fever and other signs of infection including headache, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or rashes | ||
*Joint pain or swelling | *Joint pain or swelling | ||
*Leg swelling | *Leg swelling | ||
*Shortness of breath | *[[Shortness of breath]] | ||
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | ||
*Fainting, often related to irregular heart rhythms | *[[Fainting]], often related to irregular heart rhythms | ||
*Low urine output | *Low urine output | ||
==What causes Myocarditis?== | ==What causes Myocarditis?== | ||
Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart. | Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart. | ||
Viral infections: | *'''Viral infections:''' [[Coxsackie B]], [[Cytomegalovirus]], [[Hepatitis C]], [[Herpes]], [[HIV]], [[Parvovirus]] | ||
*'''Bacterial infections:''' [[Chlamydia]], [[Mycoplasma]], [[Streptococcus]], [[Treponema]] | |||
Bacterial infections: | *'''Fungal infections:''' [[Aspergillus]], [[Candida]], [[Coccidioides]], [[Cryptococcus]], [[Histoplasma]] | ||
Fungal infections: | When you have an infection, your immune system produces special cells that release chemicals to fight off disease. If the infection affects your heart, the disease-fighting cells enter the heart. However, the chemicals produced by an immune response can damage the heart muscle. As a result, the heart can become thick, swollen, and weak. This leads to symptoms of [[Heart failure (patient information)|heart failure]]. | ||
Other causes of myocarditis may include: | |||
==When to seek urgent medical care== | *Allergic reactions to certain medications or toxins (alcohol, cocaine, certain chemotherapy drugs, heavy metals, and catecholamines) | ||
*Being around certain chemicals | |||
*Certain diseases that cause inflammation throughout the body ([[Rheumatoid arthritis (patient information)|rheumatoid arthritis]], [[Sarcoidosis (patient information)|sarcoidosis]]) | |||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | |||
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of myocarditis, especially after a recent infection. | Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of myocarditis, especially after a recent infection. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 42: | ||
*Swelling | *Swelling | ||
== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following: | A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following: | ||
*Abnormal heartbeat or heart sounds (murmurs, extra heart sounds) | *Abnormal heartbeat or heart sounds (murmurs, extra heart sounds) | ||
*Fever | *[[Fever]] | ||
*Fluid in the lungs | *Fluid in the lungs | ||
*Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) | *Rapid heartbeat ([[tachycardia]]) | ||
*Swelling (edema) in the legs | *Swelling ([[edema]]) in the legs | ||
Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include: | Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include: | ||
| Line 50: | Line 54: | ||
*Blood cultures for infection | *Blood cultures for infection | ||
*Blood tests for antibodies against the heart muscle and the body itself | *Blood tests for antibodies against the heart muscle and the body itself | ||
*Chest x-ray | *[[Chest x-ray]] | ||
*Electrocardiogram (ECG) | *Electrocardiogram ([[ECG]]) | ||
*Heart muscle biopsy (endomyocardial biopsy) | *Heart muscle biopsy (endomyocardial biopsy) | ||
*Red blood cell count | *Red blood cell count | ||
| Line 57: | Line 61: | ||
*White blood cell count | *White blood cell count | ||
==Treatment options== | |||
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve: | Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve: | ||
| Line 67: | Line 72: | ||
If the heart muscle is very weak, your health care provider will prescribe medicines to treat heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may require the use of additional medications, a pacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. If a blood clot is in the heart chamber, you will also receive blood thinning medicine. | If the heart muscle is very weak, your health care provider will prescribe medicines to treat heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may require the use of additional medications, a pacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. If a blood clot is in the heart chamber, you will also receive blood thinning medicine. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Myocarditis== | ==Where to find medical care for Myocarditis?== | ||
[http://maps.google.com/maps? | [http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Myocarditis}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Myocarditis] | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and your overall health. The outlook varies. Some people may recover completely. Others may have permanent heart failure. | How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and your overall health. The outlook varies. Some people may recover completely. Others may have permanent [[Heart failure (patient information)|heart failure]]. | ||
==Possible complications== | ==Possible complications== | ||
| Line 78: | Line 83: | ||
*[[Cardiomyopathy (patient information)|Cardiomyopathy]] | *[[Cardiomyopathy (patient information)|Cardiomyopathy]] | ||
*[[Sudden cardiac death (patient information)|Sudden Cardiac death]] | *[[Sudden cardiac death (patient information)|Sudden Cardiac death]] | ||
==Prevention== | |||
Promptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk. | |||
==Source== | ==Source== | ||
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000149.htm | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000149.htm | ||
[[Category:Patient information]] | [[Category:Patient information]] | ||
| Line 89: | Line 94: | ||
[[category:Cardiology patient information]] | [[category:Cardiology patient information]] | ||
[[Category:Mature chapter]] | [[Category:Mature chapter]] | ||
[[Category:Template complete]] | |||
[[Category:Overview complete]] | |||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
Revision as of 21:13, 18 August 2011
|
Myocarditis |
|
Myocarditis On the Web |
|---|
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [1]
Overview
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
What are the symptoms of Myocarditis?
There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Chest pain that may resemble a heart attack
- Fatigue
- Fever and other signs of infection including headache, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or rashes
- Joint pain or swelling
- Leg swelling
- Shortness of breath
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Fainting, often related to irregular heart rhythms
- Low urine output
What causes Myocarditis?
Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.
- Viral infections: Coxsackie B, Cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis C, Herpes, HIV, Parvovirus
- Bacterial infections: Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Streptococcus, Treponema
- Fungal infections: Aspergillus, Candida, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma
When you have an infection, your immune system produces special cells that release chemicals to fight off disease. If the infection affects your heart, the disease-fighting cells enter the heart. However, the chemicals produced by an immune response can damage the heart muscle. As a result, the heart can become thick, swollen, and weak. This leads to symptoms of heart failure.
Other causes of myocarditis may include:
- Allergic reactions to certain medications or toxins (alcohol, cocaine, certain chemotherapy drugs, heavy metals, and catecholamines)
- Being around certain chemicals
- Certain diseases that cause inflammation throughout the body (rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis)
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of myocarditis, especially after a recent infection. Seek immediate medical help if you have severe symptoms or have been diagnosed with myocarditis and have increased:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling
Diagnosis
A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following:
- Abnormal heartbeat or heart sounds (murmurs, extra heart sounds)
- Fever
- Fluid in the lungs
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Swelling (edema) in the legs
Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include:
- Blood cultures for infection
- Blood tests for antibodies against the heart muscle and the body itself
- Chest x-ray
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Heart muscle biopsy (endomyocardial biopsy)
- Red blood cell count
- Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)
- White blood cell count
Treatment options
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce swelling
- Diuretics to remove excess water from the body
- Low-salt diet
- Reduced activity
If the heart muscle is very weak, your health care provider will prescribe medicines to treat heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may require the use of additional medications, a pacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. If a blood clot is in the heart chamber, you will also receive blood thinning medicine.
Where to find medical care for Myocarditis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Myocarditis
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and your overall health. The outlook varies. Some people may recover completely. Others may have permanent heart failure.
Possible complications
The most likely complications are
Prevention
Promptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk.