Overview - Endocarditis
Endocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal infection of the inner lining of the heart (the endocardium). It's most commonly caused by bacteria entering the blood and travelling to the heart.
Although the heart is usually well protected against infection, it may be easier for bacteria to bypass the immune system in people who have:
- an artificial (prosthetic) heart valve – valve replacement surgery is increasingly being used when people experience narrowing of one of their heart valves
- congenital heart disease – where a person is born with heart defects
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – where the heart muscle cells have enlarged and the walls of the heart chambers thicken
- damaged heart valves – because of infection or heart disease
- had endocarditis before
People who inject drugs are also more likely to develop endocarditis.
Find out more about the causes of endocarditis
Symptoms of endocarditis
The initial symptoms of endocarditis are similar to flu and include:
- a high temperature
- chills
- headache
- joint and muscle pain
Without treatment, the infection damages the heart valves and disrupts the normal flow of blood through the
Endokardit orsakar inflammation i hjärtfodret (endokardium) och framför allt hjärtventilerna. Utlösaren av endokardit är vanligtvis en bakterieinfektion som måste behandlas så snabbt som möjligt med antibiotika. Mer sällan beror hjärtinflammation på en autoimmun reaktion som inträffar i samband med andra sjukdomar. Läs mer om orsakerna och behandlingen av endokardit.
Endokardit: beskrivning
Endokardit är en Inflammation av hjärtat, det så kallade endokardiet. Hjärtväggen består av olika lager &#; endokardiet är det innersta. Den täcker hjärtets atria och ventriklar och bildar också de fyra hjärtventilerna. Dessa fungerar som ventiler för blodet som pumpas genom hjärtat med varje takt. Vid endokardit är en eller flera hjärtventiler inflammerade i de flesta fall, vanligtvis mitralventilen och / eller aortaklaffen.
Av varje människor utvecklar cirka tre hjärtattacker varje år orsakade av bakterier eller svampar. Det finns också icke-infektiösa former av endokardit. Här antändas endokardiet, utan att det koloniseras av patogener, till exempel i samband med reumatisk feber. Den icke-infektiösa formen av endokardit blir allt mer sällsynt i västerländska länder, medan den infe
Symptoms - Endocarditis
The symptoms of endocarditis can develop rapidly over a few days (acute endocarditis), or slowly over a few weeks or possibly months (subacute endocarditis).
Subacute endocarditis is more common in people with congenital heart disease.
Symptoms of endocarditis
The most common symptoms of endocarditis include:
- a high temperature
- chills
- night sweats
- headaches
- shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
- cough
- tiredness (fatigue)
- muscle and joint pain
Other symptoms can include:
- small red, brown or purple spots on the skin (petechiae); these may be harder to see on brown and black skin
- narrow, reddish-brown lines of blood that run underneath the nails
- painful red lumps in the pads of the fingers and toes, but redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin
- painless red spots on the palms and soles, but redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin
- confusion
- loss of appetite
- unexpected weight loss
When to seek medical advice
Contact your GP as soon as possible if you develop any symptoms of endocarditis, particularly if you're at a higher risk of developing it, such as if you have a history of h
Symptoms of Endocarditis
Endocarditis is caused by a bacterial infection in the heart's lining. The main symptoms of endocarditis are chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and skin changes. Some endocarditis symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, making it important to be seen by a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
In this article, you will learn about the symptoms of endocarditis, associated risk factors and complications, and signs that indicate it's time to see a healthcare provider.
Acute vs. Subacute Infective Endocarditis
Endocarditis is also called infective endocarditis. "Infective" means there is an infection present. There are two types: acute and subacute. Acute develops suddenly and can become life-threatening in a matter of days. Subacute develops slowly over weeks or even months. Both conditions are caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream.
Frequent Symptoms
Endocarditis symptoms can develop differently from person to person. They can be severe, mild, come on suddenly, or happen slowly. Acute endocarditis comes on quickly and requires immediate medical attention. Subacute cases develop slowly, and you ma
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