Inflammation of the heart

Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) is a rather dangerous disease: it can be completely asymptomatic. If the patient's body is strong, then he can cope with the disease on his own, but in most cases this pathology does not disappear without a trace. A mild form of inflammation provokes a weakening of the function of the heart muscle. Pathology often occurs as a complication against the background of infectious, viral, allergic diseases. Myocarditis occurs in both adults and children. It is important to note that restoring heart function in a child is much more difficult.

The main causes of inflammation of the heart

The myocardium is a muscular organ in the middle layer of the heart. Myocarditis is an inflammatory process that develops in the heart muscle, which subsequently leads to the destruction of muscle fibers and disruption of the organ.

This pathology can cause heart failure with indications for immediate hospitalization.

Predictions for the course of pathology, like symptoms, may differ for each person.

The course of the disease directly depends on:

• on the characteristics of the patient's body:
• from his gender;
• from the age of the patient.

Based on statistical data, it can be concluded that women tolerate myocarditis more easily.

Among the causes of myocarditis, infections can be distinguished:

1. Bacterial - staphylococci, streptococci, chlamydia, pneumococci can provoke the disease. Inflammation can develop with dental diseases such as caries, with infectious lesions of the genital tract.
2. When infected with parasites, for example, roundworms.
3. Fungal infections.
4. Infections carried by protozoa.

In addition, viruses are among the common causes of heart inflammation. The disease in children can develop after a severe form of rubella, chickenpox or herpes. Possible manifestation of myocarditis after influenza.

Among these, in a special way, there are:

• anti-tuberculosis drugs;
• diuretic drugs;
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• antibiotics.

In some cases, it is difficult to identify the factor that caused myocarditis.

Symptoms of inflammation of the heart

Among the symptoms characteristic of this disease are:

• pain in the retrosternal region;
• bouts of shortness of breath;
• suffocation that occurs during sleep;
• increased heart rate, alternating with bouts of heart failure;
• hyperhidrosis (increased sweating);
• feeling of weakness;
• pallor or cyanosis of the skin;
• dizziness leading to fainting;
• severe headaches that have the character of a migraine.

Patients diagnosed with myocarditis often suffer from hypotension. Heart pain can radiate to the arm, neck, shoulder - these symptoms can confuse the patient. There may be swelling of the extremities, the veins may swell. During an ultrasound examination, a specialist can detect an increase in the liver and a change in its structures. The most common manifestation is shortness of breath. Among the causes of its occurrence, a weak contraction of the cardiac departments is distinguished, which causes difficulty in breathing.

In the initial stages, the symptoms of pathology may not manifest themselves and, accordingly, do not disturb the patient.

In some cases, a person may not be aware of the presence of pathology, it passes on its own without complications.

Common symptoms in children include:

• general weakness;
• pallor of the skin;
• increase in body temperature (slight);
• pain in the region of the heart;
• headache;
• the occurrence of constipation;
• sleep disorders;
• the appearance of red rashes on the skin;
• bouts of dry cough.

If you suspect myocarditis in a child, you should immediately consult a doctor. Past pathology without proper treatment can affect the health of the heart in adulthood.

Diagnosis of inflammation of the heart

Diagnosing a disease with its latent course is quite difficult. Many patients consider the manifestation of weakness to be the norm after a recent viral and infectious disease, they refuse to visit a doctor.

During the initial examination, the specialist clarifies the patient's questions about the symptoms that are manifesting.

A clinical blood test of a patient with suspected myocarditis reveals:

• increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood;
• increase in ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate;
• an increase in eosinophils.

Additional research is as follows:

1. It should be remembered that bacteriological blood culture allows you to determine the causative agent of the disease.
2. If you suspect an allergic nature, you should undergo an allergy test.
3. X-ray examinations can reveal structural changes in the cavities of the heart and determine the presence of congestive processes in the lungs.
4. Ultrasound can help confirm conduction abnormalities and changes in the heart's rhythm.
5. Only in extreme cases resort to a biopsy of the heart.

Inflammation of the heart muscle always requires treatment.

Features of inflammation of the heart

Unexpressed myocarditis requires adherence to bed rest and special restorative nutrition. If signs of serious inflammation of the heart muscle appear, the patient must be hospitalized, because such a disease is classified as a rather complex pathology: it requires full therapy.

The basics of therapy are:

1. If the source of the disease lies in the infection, then medical treatment is required, which should be aimed at eliminating harmful viruses. In most cases, chemotherapy and powerful antibacterial agents are used. Antibiotic therapy, as a rule, gives a very positive result, after the elimination of the provocateur, treatment of myocarditis is not required, the disease goes away on its own.
2. To get rid of the pathology of an allergic nature, hyposensitization is used in combination with antibiotics. Such a combined method has a positive effect on the body, disturbing symptoms begin to subside.
3. Treatment of a chronic disease consists in the use of antiallergic drugs and salicylates.
4. If myocarditis is accompanied by an increase in heart rate, drugs indicated for tachycardia are used.

Surgical intervention involves the introduction of an implant into the region of the heart, its main task is to equalize the heartbeat.

It is important to know that the rehabilitation process after such an intervention implies:

• limitation of physical activity;
• refusal of certain foods;
• restriction of salt intake.

Treatment of myocarditis in pediatric patients is reduced to the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. The use of drugs that improve metabolism is shown. It is worth noting that in most cases, carditis in children is asymptomatic.