Myocarditis history and symptoms
|
Myocarditis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Myocarditis history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Myocarditis history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Myocarditis 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]
Overview
The signs and symptoms associated with myocarditis are varied, and relate either to the actual inflammation of the myocardium, or the weakness of the heart muscle that is secondary to the inflammation.
Specific Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of myocarditis include:[1]
- Chest pain (often described as "stabbing" in character)
- Congestive heart failure (leading to edema, breathlessness and hepatic congestion)
- Palpitations (due to arrhythmias)
- Sudden death (in young adults, myocarditis causes up to 20% of all cases of sudden death)[2]
- Fever (especially when infectious, e.g. in rheumatic fever)
Since myocarditis is often due to a viral illness, many patients give a history of symptoms consistent with a recent viral infection, including fever, diarrhea, joint pains, and easy fatigability.
Myocarditis is often associated with pericarditis, and many patients present with signs and symptoms that suggest concurrent myocarditis and pericarditis.
References
- ↑ Feldman AM, McNamara D. Myocarditis. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1388-98. PMID 11070105.
- ↑ Eckart RE, Scoville SL, Campbell CL, Shry EA, Stajduhar KC, Potter RN, Pearse LA, Virmani R. Sudden death in young adults: a 25-year review of autopsies in military recruits. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:829-34. PMID 15583223.