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Definition

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.

See also: Pediatric myocarditis

Alternative Names

Inflammation - heart muscle

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.

Viral infections:

Bacterial infections:

Fungal infections:

  • Aspergillus
  • Candida
  • Coccidioides
  • Cryptococcus
  • Histoplasma
  • Schistosomiasis

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)
Symptoms

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:

Signs and tests

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:

Treatment

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.

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 provider

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:

Prevention

Promptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk.

References

Liu 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.

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12y ago
Definition

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.

See also: Pediatric myocarditis

Alternative Names

Inflammation - heart muscle

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.

Viral infections:

Bacterial infections:

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)
Symptoms

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:

Signs and tests

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:

Treatment

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.

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 provider

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:

Prevention

Promptly treating conditions that cause myocarditis may reduce the risk.

References

Liu 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 By

Review 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).

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Related questions

What is the result of myocarditis?

The myocarditis may cause disturbances in the heart rhythm and may culminate in heart failure


Could a throat specialist treat you for myocarditis?

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.


What is myocarditis?

inflammation of the myocardium


Is myocarditis inherited?

yes and no.


What body system does myocarditis relate to?

Myocarditis relates to the cardiovascular system. It specifically affects the heart muscle, known as the myocardium, causing inflammation and potentially leading to heart complications.


How many people are diagnosed with myocarditis each year?

1500


If a person has endocarditis myocarditis or pericarditis what areas in order are infected?

Endocardium, myocardium, pericardium


Can Myocarditis be passed to children?

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.


What is the prognosis for myocarditis caused by a viral infection?

if it results from a general viral infection. The only steps to recovery include rest and avoidance of physical exertion.


What is the medical terminology for inflammtion in heart?

Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium).


Why could diphtheria cause major illness or death?

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.


What are the possible medical surgical diagnosis of myocarditis in young adult?

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.