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Myocarditis dentistry/myocardium
Myocardium is the contractile
component of the heart and is
composed of cardiac muscle
Overview cells which are striated and
linked by intercalated discs
Symptoms
If you have a mild case of myocarditis or are in the early stages, you might have no
symptoms or mild ones, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
In serious cases, the signs and symptoms of myocarditis vary, depending on the cause
of the disease. Common myocarditis signs and symptoms include:
Chest pain
Rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
Shortness of breath, at rest or during physical activity
Fluid retention with swelling of your legs, ankles and feet
Fatigue
Other signs and symptoms of a viral infection, such as a headache, body aches,
joint pain, fever, a sore throat or diarrhea
Myocarditis in children
When children develop myocarditis, they might have signs and symptoms including:
Fever
Fainting
Breathing difficulties
Rapid breathing
Rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of myocarditis, particularly chest pain and
shortness of breath. If you've had an infection, be alert for the symptoms of myocarditis
and let your doctor know if they occur. If you have severe symptoms, go to the
emergency room or call for emergency medical help.
Causes
Often, the cause of myocarditis isn't identified. Potential causes are many, but the
likelihood of developing myocarditis is rare. Potential causes include:
Viruses. Many viruses are commonly associated with myocarditis, including the
viruses that cause the common cold (adenovirus); hepatitis B and C; parvovirus,
which causes a mild rash, usually in children (fifth disease); and herpes simplex
virus.
Gastrointestinal infections (echoviruses), mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) and
German measles (rubella) also can cause myocarditis. It's also common in people
with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Complications
Severe myocarditis can permanently damage your heart muscle, possibly causing:
Heart failure. Untreated, myocarditis can damage your heart's muscle so that it
can't pump blood effectively. In severe cases, myocarditis-related heart failure may
require a ventricular assist device or a heart transplant.
Heart attack or stroke. If your heart's muscle is injured and can't pump blood, the
blood that pools in your heart can form clots. If a clot blocks one of your heart's
arteries, you can have a heart attack. If a blood clot in your heart travels to an artery
leading to your brain before becoming lodged, you can have a stroke.
Rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Damage to your heart muscle
can cause arrhythmias.
Sudden cardiac death. Certain serious arrhythmias can cause your heart to stop
beating (sudden cardiac arrest). It's fatal if not treated immediately.
Prevention
There's no specific prevention for myocarditis. However, taking these steps to prevent
infections might help:
Avoid people who have a viral or flu-like illness until they've recovered. If
you're sick with viral symptoms, try to avoid exposing others.
Follow good hygiene. Regular hand-washing can help prevent spreading illness.
Avoid risky behaviors. To reduce your chances of getting an HIV-related
myocardial infection, practice safe sex and don't use illegal drugs.
Minimize exposure to ticks. If you spend time in tick-infested areas, wear long-
sleeved shirts and long pants to cover as much of your skin as possible. Apply tick
or insect repellents that contain DEET.
Get your vaccines. Stay up to date on the recommended vaccines, including those
that protect against rubella and influenza — diseases that can cause myocarditis.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis is key to preventing long-term heart damage. After a physical
examination, your doctor might order one or more tests to confirm that you have
myocarditis and determine its severity. Tests might include:
Treatment
In many cases, myocarditis improves on its own or with treatment, leading to a complete
recovery. Myocarditis treatment focuses on the cause and the symptoms, such as heart
failure.
In mild cases, persons should avoid competitive sports for at least three to six months.
Rest and medication to help your body fight off the infection causing myocarditis might
be all you need. Although antiviral medications are available, they haven't proved
effective in the treatment of most cases of myocarditis.
Certain rare types of viral myocarditis, such as giant cell and eosinophilic myocarditis,
respond to corticosteroids or other medications to suppress your immune system. In
some cases caused by chronic illnesses, such as lupus, treatment is directed at the
underlying disease.
Your symptoms, including any that might seem unrelated to the reason for which
you scheduled the appointment, and when they began
Key personal information, including recent illnesses and their symptoms, recent
travel locations, and your and your family's medical history
All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
Questions to ask your doctor
Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information
you'll receive.
For myocarditis, basic questions to ask your doctor include: