Endocarditis is an infection or inflammation of the heart valves or lining of the heart chambers caused by bacteria or fungi entering the bloodstream. Symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, internal bleeding, fatigue, and weakness. Diagnosis involves a physical exam and blood tests, and treatment involves long-term antibiotic therapy and, in severe cases, heart valve surgery.
Several symptoms accompany endocarditis ranging from fever, shortness of breath, to internal bleeding. Endocarditis is defined as inflammation or infection of the heart valves or the lining of the heart chambers. Endocarditis symptoms occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Each of these symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor to confirm an accurate diagnosis and provide treatment before the infection gets worse. Patients generally receive long-term treatment to remove bacteria from the heart valves and chambers.
Endocarditis comes with a long list of symptoms that develop over time or attack the heart suddenly. Flu-like symptoms, such as chills, excessive sweating, and fever above 100° Fahrenheit (about 38° Celsius) may appear. The fever can last for several days and can also be followed by headaches, joint inflammation and muscle pain.
Other symptoms of endocarditis should be treated immediately and never ignored because the condition sometimes leads to death. These symptoms include shortness of breath, internal bleeding under the nails known as splinter hemorrhage, and weight loss and loss of appetite. Fatigue and weakness, rash, and swelling in the abs, legs, and feet also indicate symptoms of endocarditis. The doctor should be alerted to other signs or symptoms of endocarditis, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, nasal congestion, white patches in the mouth, or a prolonged dry or wet cough that exceeds two days. Severe signs may indicate a bacterial strain of endocarditis.
Bacterial infections often lead to endocarditis symptoms when bacteria and fungi travel through the bloodstream and affect the lining of the heart or the heart valves. Bacteria or fungi can enter the body through the mouth or appear on the skin, particularly through a wound. Other parts of the body where bacteria can form include the urinary tract, respiratory system, and intestines. Patients with cardiovascular disease or who have undergone cardiac, dental, or other invasive procedures are more susceptible to developing symptoms of endocarditis, which causes inflammation and infection of the heart.
Diagnosing endocarditis requires an evaluation of symptoms, followed by a physical exam, to help detect the infection. Common tests a doctor uses to diagnose endocarditis include a blood culture and serologic test, which tests blood serum and body fluids for endocarditis. Additional tests such as an echocardiogram and chest X-ray can also identify the presence of endocarditis.
After the detection of endocarditis symptoms, a patient has to endure long-term antibiotic therapy in the hospital. During therapy, the patient receives intravenous medications to ensure the removal of the bacteria that caused the endocarditis. On average, the process takes about six weeks to effectively clear the bacteria from the heart area. Heart valve surgery may be needed if endocarditis symptoms are causing scarring or heart failure.
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