Endocarditis - Symptom, Causes, Treatment of Endocarditis

Endocarditis is the inflammation of the endocardium, the membrane lining the chambers of the heart and covering the heart valves.

The most common cause of Endocarditis is infection resulting from bacteria being introduced into the bloodstream during surgery, some investigative procedures, dental treatment or intravenous drug abuse.

Infectious enaocarditis, which may be acute or subacute, is more likely to occur in people whose endocardium has been damaged by rheumatic fever, or congenital heart disease and, less commonly, in people with immuno deficiency.

Endocarditis without infection may be a feature of some types of auto immuno disease (in which the immune system produces antibodies that attack one or more of the body's own tissues)

Symptoms of Endocarditis

Acute endocarditis causes the sudden onset of high fever. chills. rapid or irregular heart-beat and shortness of breath.

Subacute endocarditis can produce intermittent, non-specific symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, bouts of fever, night sweats and vague aches and pains. The condition may smoulder for months, seriously damaging heart valves before the discovery of a heart murmur leads to the diagnosis.

Treament of Endocarditis

Blood samples are taken so that the responsible bacteria can be identified and appropriate antibiotics given intravenously, usually in hospital. Endocarditis not caused by infection is treated by means of cortico dteroids drugs or immuno suppresents drugs.

Outlook of Endocarditis

Before the introduction of antibiotics, bacterial endocarditis was usually fatal. Today treatment is successful in most cases, and endo-carditis can often be prevented by giving anti-biotics to people at risk before any procedure that might introduce bacteria into the blood.

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