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Carditis is inflammation of heart tissue, classified into endocarditis, myocarditis, and pericarditis. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Most cases are caused by infections or underlying health conditions and can be treated with medication. Surgery may be necessary if the condition persists.
Carditis is a general term for inflammation of heart tissue. The condition is classified into three different disorders, depending on where the inflammation occurs. Endocarditis refers to inflammation of the inner heart tissue, myocarditis affects the middle heart muscle, and pericarditis is irritation of the outer membrane of the heart. An individual suffering from any type of carditis is likely to experience chest pains, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Most cases of carditis are caused by bacterial infections, viruses, or underlying health conditions and tend to resolve with prescribed medications.
Endocarditis and myocarditis are typically the result of bacteria entering the bloodstream and attaching themselves to heart tissue. The most common symptoms of endocarditis are fatigue, coughing, chest pain, chills, and shortness of breath, although a person may also notice swelling in their hands and feet and blood in their urine over time. Myocarditis can cause similar symptoms, as well as a rapid heartbeat and sharp, stabbing heart pain.
The heart is surrounded by a fluid-filled protective sac known as the pericardium. The sac can become inflamed and irritated from a viral infection, chest trauma, or other illnesses such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Pericarditis can be acute or chronic, which means that its onset can be rapid and severe, or it can get progressively worse over time. Acute pericarditis usually causes sharp chest pains, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. Chronic conditions are often painless in the beginning, but symptoms such as difficulty breathing and swelling in the extremities tend to develop after about six months.
All three types of carditis are diagnosed similarly. A doctor usually asks a patient about their medical history and conducts a quick physical exam. Your doctor usually uses an EKG machine to monitor your heart’s electrical activity. A patient may also receive a chest X-ray or other tests to give the doctor a better picture of the problem. Once carditis has been diagnosed, your doctor can determine the best treatment methods.
Most cases of myocarditis and endocarditis are treated with oral antibacterial or antiviral medications. Doctors usually suggest that patients with these conditions get plenty of rest and maintain healthy lifestyle choices to prevent the condition from worsening. An individual with pericarditis may be given anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications. If a case of carditis doesn’t go away within a month or keeps coming back over time, doctors usually recommend surgical procedures to remove or replace the inflamed tissue.
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