Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
See also: Pediatric myocarditis
Alternative NamesInflammation - heart muscle
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMyocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.
Viral infections:
Bacterial infections:
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.
Other causes of myocarditis may include:
There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following:
Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include:
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve:
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.
Expectations (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.
ComplicationsCalling your health care providerCall 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:
PreventionPromptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk.
ReferencesLiu PP, Schultheiss HP. Myocarditis. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 66.
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
See also: Pediatric myocarditis
Alternative NamesInflammation - heart muscle
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMyocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.
Viral infections:
Bacterial infections:
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.
Other causes of myocarditis may include:
There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following:
Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include:
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve:
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.
Expectations (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.
ComplicationsCalling your health care providerCall 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:
PreventionPromptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk.
ReferencesLiu PP, Schultheiss HP. Myocarditis. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 66.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/04/2010
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/4/2010).
The myocarditis may cause disturbances in the heart rhythm and may culminate in heart failure
No, a throat specialist cannot treat you for myocarditis, because myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, so a throat specialist wouldn't be very knowledgeable in this area.
inflammation of the myocardium
yes and no.
Myocarditis relates to the cardiovascular system. It specifically affects the heart muscle, known as the myocardium, causing inflammation and potentially leading to heart complications.
1500
Endocardium, myocardium, pericardium
Myocarditis is the term for an infection of the muscle tissue of the heart. The infection is almost always caused by a virus. There is not yet any antibiotic that is effective against such viruses.This is not genetic, so there is no increased risk in subsequent children or in other family members.
if it results from a general viral infection. The only steps to recovery include rest and avoidance of physical exertion.
Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium).
Complications may include myocarditis, inflammation of nerves, kidney problems, and bleeding problems due to low blood platelets. Myocarditis may result in an abnormal heart rate and inflammation of the nerves may result in paralysis.
chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, possibly fever. However, you would need to visit a hospital for an ECG in order to come to a specific and correct diagnosis. If you are worried that you do have myocarditis, please consult a doctor - as it can result in sudden death.