Endocarditis is inflammation of the tissues lining the inside of the heart, especially heart valves; it is usually caused by an infection elsewhere in the body that spreads through the blood to the heart and can therefore also be called 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 you have another cause, endocarditis can also be treated with antifungals or simply anti-inflammatory medications to relieve discomfort.the intensity of symptoms, it may be recommended to stay in the hospital.
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Symptoms of endocarditis may appear slowly over time and, as a result, are often not easy to identify.The most common are:
In rarer situations, other symptoms, such as weight loss, presence of blood in the urine, and increased sensitivity on the left side of the abdomen, may also occur in the spleen area.
However, these symptoms can vary greatly, especially depending on the cause of endocarditis; for example, whenever a heart problem is suspected, 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 a problem that requires treatment.
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Diagnosis of endocarditis may be made by a cardiologist.In general, the assessment begins with the assessment of symptoms and the auscultation of cardiac function, but certain diagnostic tests such as echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and blood tests are also necessary.
The main cause of endocarditis is infection by bacteria, which may be present in the body due to an infection in other parts of the body, such as a tooth or a sore skin, for example.When the immune system cannot fight these bacteria, they can eventually spread through the bloodstream and reach the heart, causing inflammation.
Therefore, because bacteria, fungi and viruses can also affect the heart and cause endocarditis, treatment is done differently.Some of the most common ways to develop endocarditis include:
Not everyone develops endocarditis because the immune system is able to fight most of these microorganisms, but the elderly, children or people with autoimmune diseases are at increased risk.
Types of endocarditis are related to the cause that caused them and are classified as:
For infectious endocarditis, which is the most common, when caused by bacteria, it is called bacterial endocarditis, when it is caused by fungi, it is called fungal endocarditis.
When caused by acute rheumatoid arthritis, it is called rheumatic endocarditis and when it is caused by lupus, it is called Libman Sacks endocarditis.
Endocarditis treatment is done with antibiotics or antifungals, in high doses, intravenously, for at least 4 to 6 weeks.Anti-inflammatory drugs, fever medications and, in some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed to relieve symptoms.
In cases of destruction of the heart valve by infection, surgery may be needed to replace the damaged valve with a prosthesis that may be biological or metallic.
Untreated endocarditis can cause complications such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, or kidney problems that can progress to acute kidney failure.