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CAUSES OF MYOCARDITIS

Viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis.

When you have an infection, your body produces cells to fight infection. These cells alsorelease chemicals. If the disease-fighting cells enter your heart, they can releasechemicals that can damage your heart muscle. Your heart may become thick, swollen,and weak. eeking immediate medical care for infections can help prevent

complications.These are some of the types of infections that can cause myocarditis.

Viral infections 

• !o"sackie # viruses

• $pstein-#arr virus %$#V&

• !ytomegalovirus %!'V&

• (epatitis !

• (erpes

• (IV

• )arvovirus

Bacterial infections 

• !hlamydia %a common se"ually transmitted disease&

• 'ycoplasma %bacteria that cause a lung infection&

• treptococcal %strep& bacteria

• taphylococcal %staph& bacteria

• Treponema %the cause of syphilis&

• #orrelia %the cause of *yme disease&

+ungal and parasitic infections can also cause myocarditis.

ther causes of myocarditis include certain chemicals or allergic reactions tomedications  or to"ins such as alcohol, drugs, lead, spider bites, wasp stings, or snakebites and chemotherapy and radiation therapy. (aving an autoimmune diseasesuch as  lupus  or rheumatoid arthritis that causes inflammation throughout your bodymay also lead to myocarditis.

Signs and Symtoms of Myocarditis

'yocarditis often has no symptoms. In fact, most people recover and never even knowthey had it.

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If you do have symptoms, they may include one or more of these

• hortness of breath during e"ercise at first, then at night while lying down

•  bnormal heartbeat, which causes fainting in rare cases

• *ight-headedness

•  n often sharp or stabbing chest pain or pressure, which may spread to

neck and shoulders

• +atigue

• igns of infection, such as fever , muscle aches, sore throat, headache, or 

diarrhea

• )ainful /oints

• wollen /oints, legs, or neck veins

• mall amounts of urine

If you have symptoms like these, your doctor will do a physical e"am to check for anabnormal or rapid heartbeat, fluid in your lungs, or leg swelling.

To confirm a diagnosis of myocarditis and spot underlying causes, your doctor mayorder one or more tests such as

• #lood tests to check for infection, antibodies, or blood cell counts

•   chest 0-ray to produce an image of your heart, lungs, and other chest

structures

•  n electrocardiogram %$!1& to produce a recording of your heart2s

electrical activity

•   heart ultrasound %echocardiogram& to make an image of your heart and

its structures

*ess often, doctors order cardiac magnetic resonance imaging  %'3I& scans or heartmuscle biopsies to help confirm a diagnosis.

!"en to Call Yo#r Doctor 

!all your doctor right away if you have symptoms of myocarditis. If symptoms follow aninfection, myocarditis is more likely. eek immediate medical care if your symptoms aresevere. lso seek immediate care if symptoms of chest pain, trouble breathing, or swelling have gotten worse following a diagnosis of myocarditis.

Treatment for Myocarditis

If you have myocarditis, your doctor will treat its underlying cause. (e or she will also tryto take the e"tra load off your heart and take steps to prevent or control complications.

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Treatment typically includes medications to help the heart function better. $"amplesinclude !$ inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics.

Your doctor will also likely suggest rest or reduced activity for at least si" months and alow-salt diet to prevent fluid buildup.

You may be hospitali4ed if you have complications of myocarditis, such as a blood clotor weakened heart. If abnormal heart rhythms are severe, you may need other 

medications, a pacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator %I!5&.Your outlook depends on the cause of your myocarditis, your overall health, andwhether you develop complications. You may recover completely. r you may develop achronic, lasting condition. 3egardless, follow-up care can monitor you for any ongoingheart problems. It2s also important to know that myocarditis can recur, although this isnot common.

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