Is myocarditis contagious?

Written by Xiao Chang Jiang
Cardiology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Many people often ask if my myocarditis is contagious. Actually, myocarditis is a focal inflammatory lesion of the myocardium or a diffuse inflammatory disease of the entire myocardium. It is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Based on the cause, we classify it into infectious and non-infectious types. The infectious type is mostly caused by viruses, such as Coxsackievirus B, or by bacteria, while non-infectious type is caused by allergies. Generally, they are not contagious.

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Is myocarditis serious?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, most commonly caused by viral infections. The onset of the disease can be either sudden or slow, and it is mostly self-limiting, but in rare cases can lead to acute pump failure or sudden death. The severity of the condition largely depends on the extent and location of the lesions. Mild cases may have no symptoms at all, while severe cases can lead to cardiogenic shock or even sudden death. In clinical diagnosis, the majority of myocarditis cases present primarily with arrhythmias, and in a minority of cases, the initial symptoms may include syncope or Adams-Stokes syndrome. Thus, the severity of myocarditis is related to the variation in the condition itself.

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What irritants should myocarditis avoid?

Suffering from myocarditis, fear of emotional stimulation. Myocarditis is caused by viral infection resulting in damage to the myocardium. Severe myocardial damage requires bed rest, maintaining a pleasant mood, and treatment with effective medication under the guidance of a doctor. Frequent anger or temper tantrums can cause increased sympathetic nervous excitability, leading to faster heart rates and increased cardiac burden. In severe cases, it can lead to acute heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, or even sudden death. Therefore, after being diagnosed with myocarditis, it is crucial to pay close attention to maintaining a cheerful mood and actively cooperating with the doctor for effective treatment.

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Is myocarditis serious?

Is myocarditis serious? In fact, myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Patients with myocarditis may experience symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, discomfort or pain in the precordial area, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. During examinations, we often see slight enlargement of the heart, arrhythmias, gallop rhythm, and other manifestations of heart dysfunction. In severe cases, myocarditis can lead to fulminant myocarditis, such as severe heart failure or cardiogenic shock, often accompanied by arrhythmias. Even with timely and standard treatment, death may occur due to the severity of the condition. Even if patients with myocarditis recover, they may still have some sequelae on the electrocardiogram, such as atrioventricular block, bundle branch block, premature beats, or junctional rhythm.

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How is myocarditis detected?

The diagnosis of myocarditis includes several aspects: The electrocardiogram may show STT changes, or various arrhythmias. Chest radiography may reveal an enlarged cardiac silhouette, while an echocardiogram may be normal or show left ventricular enlargement. Magnetic resonance imaging may show myocardial edema or congestion. Biochemical examinations may reveal elevated levels of troponin and myocardial enzymes, as well as increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Additional diagnostic methods include etiological examinations, which can identify viral infections through blood or stool samples. Furthermore, endocarditis or myocardial biopsy can provide definitive diagnosis.

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What are the symptoms of myocarditis?

The clinical manifestations of myocarditis in patients depend on the extent and location of the lesion. Mild cases may have no symptoms at all, while severe cases can even present with heart failure and shock. Most patients have precursor symptoms of viral infection one to three weeks before the onset, such as fever, general fatigue, and muscle soreness. Some patients have gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Subsequently, they may experience palpitations, chest pain, breathing difficulties, edema, and even fainting or sudden death. The majority of clinically diagnosed myocarditis cases primarily present with or are primarily symptomatic of psychological frailty. A minority of patients may experience fainting or Aschner's syndrome as a result.