Myocarditis Symptoms and Treatments
Myocarditis is basically inflammation of the heart. Myocarditis is not a common medical disorder and sometimes its diagnosis is delayed because it is never suspected. It may present with chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, a low grade fever and is often confused with a heart attack. When active myocarditis is severe, it can affect pumping action of the heart muscle which can lead to formation of blood clots, heart attack or a stroke. The majority of cases of myocarditis are caused by viruses. Asides from chest pain, one may have an abnormal heart beat, shortness of breath, swelling of the feet and abdomen, and fatigue. Other associated symptoms may include a sore throat, cough, painful joints, fever or headache. Some people may also develop concomitant pericarditis. Mild cases of myocarditis may not have many symptoms and usually disappear once the sore throat resolves.
When the symptoms are more prominent and disabling, most patients require admission to the hospital and are managed in an intensive care setting.
Viral myocarditis appears to be the more common in North America. The most common viruses implicated with myocarditis are the coxsackie group which often cause the common cold, the adenovirus, the stomach virus, mononucleosis virus and HIV.
In rare cases, bacteria may also cause acute myocarditis. Parasites in the tropics can cause myocarditis but these are not seen in North America. Other causes of myocarditis include fungus like aspergillus and histoplasmosis.
Chronic Myocarditis can also occur from prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals like arsenic, use of some antibiotics, cocaine and other blood vessel disorders like Wegener’s disease.
The diagnosis of acute myocarditis involves use of an ECG, chest X ray, echocardiogram, blood tests and biopsy of the heart muscle. Often the disorder is confused with a heart attack and the diagnosis is delayed.
Severe cases of chronic myocarditis can lead to permanent damage and cause heart failure. Others may develop abnormal heart rhythms.
The majority of mild cases of myocarditis resolve on their own. Viral myocarditis causes usually require no treatment other than pain control. Certain myocarditis may require use of corticosteroids plus one also needs to stop smoking, decrease salt in the diet and rest. These steps can help reduce stress on the heart. Other drugs may be used to treat high blood pressure and control heart rhythms. In severe cases of active myocarditis where the heart is failing, one may be placed on a heart-lung machine, a balloon pump or an artificial heart; in rare cases an emergency transplant may also be required.
Those who sustain permanent damage to the heart may need to take a variety of medications to help the heart function properly. In general myocarditis is a very rare disorder but one can prevent most cases of myocarditis by avoiding people who have a common old, maintaining good hygiene, avoiding use of illicit drugs and making sure that one is immunized against certain bacteria and viruses.
Even though myocarditis sounds like a serious disorder, the majority of cases recover without sequelae.