Acute Rheumatic Myocarditis

Symptoms

Source: Diana Hysi

In this topic (6)

 

Symptoms are similar to those experienced for acute articular rheumatism.
Patients also experience the following symptoms:

  1. Precordial pain (in the chest), a light pain which surfaces during physical exertion.

  1. Dyspnea (difficulties breathing), which at the onset only appear during physical strain, and later on this difficulty transitions into orthopnea (difficulties breathing and standing), which force the patient to lie while supported by pillows. Other times patients may exhibit cardiac asthma symptoms as a consequence of an acute insufficiency of the left ventricle.

  1. Rhythm disruptions, most often tachycardia (a drastic elevation of the heart rhythm), bradycardia (lowering of the heart rhythm), extrasystolic arrhythmia and more rarely atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. At times circulation problems will become evident, and most often patients may experience an atrioventricular block of the first degree.

  1. High fever

  1. General fatigue

  1. Pallor with cyanotic hues (the patients will become pale and somewhat mauve in the face)

  1. Lowered pulse

  1. Low arterial pressure, mostly the systolic pressure

  1. Other changes visible in blood tests 

Articles for Acute Rheumatic Myocarditis

Causes

The main cause for this disease is the betahaemolytic Streptococcus of group A, which is found in common infectious sites such as the mouth; in dental granulomas, dental abscesses, paradontosis, and other infections such as chronic tonsillitis.

Complications

Complications of acute rheumatic myocarditis include: acute insufficiency of the left ventricle, cardiac ascites, (acute pulmonary edema), chronic cardiac insufficiency, dangerous rhythm disruptions, etc.

Diagnosis

In general a diagnosis is easily assigned, but this may be more challenging in cases where the joints (articulations) are not affected (abarticular forms). In determining a diagnosis for the condition it helps; clinical results, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, etc.

Introduction

Acute rheumatic myocarditis occurs when during a rheumatic attack (during which the articulations may or may not be affected), and inflammation of the myocardium occurs. The myocardium is the layer of the heart which is most often affected from rheumatism.

Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to those experienced for acute articular rheumatism. Patients also experience the following symptoms: precordial pain (in the chest), dyspnea (difficulties breathing), rhythm disruptions, high fever, general fatigue, etc.

Treatment

The patient will be hospitalized and kept under supervision in absolute rest, consuming a light diet rich in vitamin and protein, low in salt. Those suffering from tachycardia have ice packets applied to the chest.