- Main symptoms
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- Possible causes of endocarditis
- Main types of endocarditis
- How the treatment is done
Endocarditis is the inflammation of the tissue that lines the inside of the heart, especially the heart valves. It is usually caused by an infection in another part of the body that spreads through the blood until it reaches the heart and therefore can also be known as infectious endocarditis.
Because it is often caused by bacteria, endocarditis is usually treated with the use of antibiotics administered directly into the vein. However, if it has another cause, endocarditis can also be treated with antifungals or just anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve discomfort. Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, it may still be recommended to stay in the hospital.
See how bacterial endocarditis is treated.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of endocarditis can appear slowly over time and, therefore, are often not easy to identify. The most common include:
- Persistent fever and chills; Excessive sweat and general malaise; Pale skin; Pain in muscles and joints; Nausea and decreased appetite; Swollen feet and legs; Persistent cough and shortness of breath.
In rarer situations, other symptoms may also appear, such as weight loss, presence of blood in the urine and increased sensitivity on the left side of the abdomen, over the spleen region.
However, these symptoms can vary quite a lot especially according to the cause of endocarditis. So, whenever there is a suspicion of a heart problem, it is very important to quickly consult a cardiologist or go to the hospital for diagnostic tests such as the electrocardiogram and confirm if there is any problem that needs treatment.
See 12 other symptoms that may indicate a heart problem.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of endocarditis can be made by a cardiologist. Generally, the evaluation begins with an evaluation of the symptoms and auscultation of the functioning of the heart, but it is also necessary to do some diagnostic tests such as echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray and blood tests.
Possible causes of endocarditis
The main cause of endocarditis is infection by bacteria, which may be present in the body due to an infection elsewhere in the body, such as a tooth or a skin wound, for example. When the immune system is unable to fight these bacteria, they can eventually spread through the blood and reach the heart, causing inflammation.
Thus, as bacteria, fungi and viruses can also affect the heart, resulting in endocarditis, however, the treatment is done differently. Some of the most common ways to develop endocarditis include:
- Having sores in the mouth or a tooth infection; Catching a sexually transmitted disease; Having an infected wound on the skin; Using a contaminated needle; Using a urinary probe for a long period.
Not everyone develops endocarditis, as the immune system is able to fight most of these microorganisms, however, the elderly, children or people with autoimmune diseases are at greater risk.
Main types of endocarditis
The types of endocarditis are related to the cause that originated them and are classified into:
- Infectious endocarditis: when it is caused by the entry of bacteria in the heart or fungi in the body, causing infections; Non-infectious endocarditis or maritime endocarditis: when it arises as a result of several problems, such as cancer, rheumatic fever or autoimmune diseases.
In relation to infective endocarditis, which is the most common, when it is caused by bacteria, it is called bacterial endocarditis, when it is caused by fungi it is called fungal endocarditis.
When it is caused by rheumatic fever it is called rheumatic endocarditis and when it is caused by lupus it is called Libman Sacks endocarditis.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for endocarditis is done through antibiotics or antifungals, in high doses, intravenously, for at least 4 to 6 weeks. To relieve symptoms, anti-inflammatory drugs, medicines for fever and, in some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed.
In cases where destruction of the heart valve by infection occurs, surgery may be necessary to replace the damaged valve with a prosthesis that may be biological or metallic.
Endocarditis when left untreated can lead to complications such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism or kidney problems that can progress to acute kidney failure.
