Pericarditis history and symptoms

Pericarditis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
HIV
Post MI
Dressler's syndrome
Post-pericardiotomy
Radiation
Tuberculosis
Uremia
Malignancy
Differentiating Pericarditis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Pericardial Effusion
Cardiac Tamponade
Constrictive Pericarditis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Study of Choice
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X-ray
Echocardiography and Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Pericardiocentesis
Pericardial Window
Pericardial Stripping
Treatment Related Videos
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Pericarditis history and symptoms On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Google Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pericarditis history and symptoms All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Pericarditis history and symptoms
CDC on Pericarditis history and symptoms
Pericarditis history and symptoms in the news
Blogs on Pericarditis history and symptoms
Directions to Hospitals Treating Type page name here
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pericarditis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

• Chest pain is the most common symptom. It often radiates to the back and is relieved by sitting up forward and is worsened by lying down. Causes of pain include inflammation of the pericardium, phrenic nerves, and nearby pleura. The pain is often initially sharp in nature, but it can be described as "sticking", dull, aching, or pressure-like. Inspiration and cough can increase the pain so that patients usually sit upright for relief. Other symptoms of pericarditis may include dry cough, fever, fatigue and anxiety. Pericarditis can be misdiagnosed as myocardial infarction, and vice versa.
• Nonproductive cough that elicites pleuritic pain
• Productive cough, which usually occurs in the presence of other illness(es)
• Hiccup (rarely)
• Odynophagia with or without dysphagia
• Faintness and dizziness (uncommon unless cardiac tamponade is present

The rapidity of onset of symptoms may provide insight into the underlying etiology of pericarditis. For example, pericarditis associated with both uremia and tuberculosis develop more slowly and can be undetectable until presenting as a fever of unknown origin. On the other hand, both bacterial and viral pericarditis develop rapidly and can present as rapidly increasing pain over several hours.