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Endocarditis En Español (Spanish Version)The endocardium is the inner lining of the heart muscle. Endocarditis is an infection of this lining and the heart valves.
Causes include:
- Bacterial infection
(most common cause)
- Viral or fungal infection
- Medical conditions that result in blood clotting too easily (causes a noninfectious form)
Bacterial Endocarditis © 2011 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Factors that increase your chance of endocarditis include:
Symptoms include:
- Fever, chills
- Weakness, low energy
- Sweatiness, especially at night
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Painful red bumps on the fingers and toes
- Purple dots on the whites of the eyes, under the fingernails, and over the collarbone
- Painful red patches on the fingers, palms, and soles
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will check your heart for unusual heart sounds. These are called
heart murmurs
.
Tests include:
- Blood tests—to check for infection
- Echocardiogram
—uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the size, shape, and motion of the heart
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics—given through your veins for up to 4-8 weeks
- Surgery—to repair or replace the valve if it is severely damaged or has caused heart failure
If you have a high risk of infection:
- You may need to take antibiotics before certain dental or medical procedures.
- Talk to your dentist or doctor before the procedure.
The American Heart Association guidelines recommend that preventive antibiotic therapy should be considered for individuals with the following cardiac conditions:
- Various forms of congenital heart disease (heart defects)
- Artificial heart valves
- History of endocarditis
- Heart transplant
recipients who have developed valve disease
Avoiding illegal IV drugs will also decrease your risk of infection.
American Heart Association Heart Information Network Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Braunwald E, Zipes DP, Libby P, et al.
Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine.
6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2001.
Cecil RL, Goldman L, Bennett JC.
Cecil Textbook of Medicine.
21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Conn HF, Rakel RE, Bope ET.
Conn's Current Therapy 2001: latest approved methods of treatment for the practicing physician.
53rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2001.
DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
: Wilson W, Taubert KA, Gewitz M, et al. Prevention of infective endocarditis. Guidelines from the American Heart Association.
Circulation.
2007 Apr 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Last Reviewed September 2011
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