Pericarditis is the inflammation of the membrane that covers the heart, also known as pericardium, which causes very intense pain in the chest, similar to a heart attack. Generally, the causes of pericarditis include infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, rheumatological diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, or radiation therapy to the chest.
When pericarditis appears suddenly, it is known as acute pericarditis and, usually, its treatment is quick, with the patient recovering in about 2 weeks. However, there are cases in which pericarditis develops over several months, with longer treatment.
Learn about other types of pericarditis: Chronic pericarditis and Constrictive pericarditis.
Acute pericarditis is curable and, in most cases, its treatment is done at home with rest and use of analgesics and anti-inflammatories prescribed by the cardiologist, however, in more severe cases it may be necessary to admit the patient to the hospital.
Symptoms of pericarditis
The main symptom of pericarditis is severe chest pain that gets worse when you cough, lie down or take a deep breath. However, other symptoms include:
- Chest pain radiating to the left side of the neck or shoulder; Difficulty breathing; Feeling of palpitations; Fever between 37º and 38º C; Excessive tiredness; Persistent cough; Swelling of the belly or legs.
When the patient has symptoms of pericarditis, he should call medical help, calling 192, or go to the emergency room as soon as possible to do tests, such as electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, and to miss a heart attack, for example. After that, the cardiologist may order other tests, such as a blood test or chest X-ray to confirm the diagnosis of pericarditis and begin appropriate treatment.
Treatment for pericarditis
Treatment for pericarditis should be guided by a cardiologist, but it is usually done only with the use of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Colchicine, which help to reduce inflammation and pain, until the patient's body eliminate the virus that is causing pericarditis. In the case of bacterial pericarditis, the doctor may also prescribe the use of antibiotics such as Amoxicillin or Ciprofloxacin, for example.
In the most severe cases of pericarditis, the patient must be admitted to the hospital to do medicine in the vein or surgery, depending on the symptoms and complications.
Possible complications
Complications of pericarditis are more frequent in the case of chronic pericarditis or when treatment is not done properly, which may include:
- Constrictive pericarditis: causes the formation of scars that make the heart tissue thicker, making it difficult to function and causing symptoms such as swelling in the body and difficulty breathing; Cardiac tamponade: accumulation of fluid within the membrane in the heart, decreasing the volume of blood pumped blood.
The complications of pericarditis can be life-threatening and, therefore, it is always necessary for the patient to be admitted to the hospital.
