Carditis - Causes and Signs of Carditis

Types of carditis

The following types of this disease are distinguished:

• depending on the severity of the disease: mild, severe and moderate carditis;
• depending on the period of occurrence: acquired or congenital carditis;
• depending on the course of the disease: chronic carditis, subacute and acute;
• depending on complications: myocardial hypertrophy, cardiosclerosis, conduction and rhythm disorders.

Causes

The origin of carditis can be very diverse:

• viral origin (cytomegalovirus, echovirus, rubella virus or herpes simplex);
• bacterial;
• allergic (allergy to drugs, vaccine administration);
• toxic;
• idiopathic (these are diseases of unknown etiology);
• yersiniosis (the causative agent in this case is the intestinal bacterium Enterobacteriaceae of the genus Yersinia).

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are characterized by the presence of the following signs:

• rapid and weak pulse;
• shortness of breath and pale skin;
• low blood pressure;
• enlargement of the borders of the heart;
• pericarditis;
• pain in the heart;
• systolic noise during the work of the heart muscle.

Congenital carditis is characterized by the following symptoms: loud heart sounds, heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure, moderate cardiomegaly. This form of carditis is characterized by symptoms of damage to several membranes of the heart.

If this form of carditis is not treated, then over time it becomes complicated by shortness of breath, sudden anxiety, tachycardia, convulsions and cyanosis.

Diagnostics

Among the methods for diagnosing carditis are used:

• general blood test;
• chest X-ray.

Electrocardiography and X-ray examination are of great importance in diagnosing the disease. With the help of electrocardiography, it is possible to detect myocardial damage at an early stage of the disease (mild form). Conducting an X-ray examination allows us to detect changes in the size of individual sections of the heart or the entire heart as a whole.

Treatment

Treatment of carditis is carried out by a cardiologist in a comprehensive and step-by-step manner. In acute carditis, hospital treatment is recommended. In this case, the patient is prescribed: bed rest and diet, taking antibacterial drugs and oxygen therapy.

Further treatment of this disease involves taking courses of drugs: anti-inflammatory, cardiac glycosides and drugs containing potassium. In severe cases, antiarrhythmic therapy and glucocorticosteroids are prescribed.

The main goal of treatment for all forms of carditis is to eliminate the signs of heart failure.

Prevention

Prevention involves following the following recommendations: hardening and compliance with sanitary and hygienic conditions and general health measures, sanitation of foci of infection. Regular monitoring by a cardiologist should also be carried out.