What are the symptoms of myocarditis?

Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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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.

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Written by Xiao Chang Jiang
Cardiology
1min 41sec home-news-image

How is myocarditis treated?

Let's talk about how myocarditis is treated. Myocarditis is actually considered a self-limiting disease with no specific cure. However, treatment generally revolves around symptomatic treatment, combining conventional care and symptom management. For general treatment, bed rest is highly recommended for patients suffering from acute viral myocarditis to reduce the strain on the heart. Patients suffering from severe arrhythmias or heart failure are advised to rest in bed for at least one month and are not allowed to participate in strenuous physical labor for six months. For those without cardiac morphological or functional changes, rest for half a month is recommended, followed by avoiding heavy physical activity for three months. Additional antiviral treatments, such as interferon-alpha and Astragalus membranaceus, may be used; protective cardiac therapies or immunotherapies may also be administered. Symptomatic treatment mainly targets patients with severe heart failure or severe arrhythmias, following conventional treatment protocols for these conditions. For patients with complete atrioventricular block, temporary pacemakers may be used, and permanent pacemakers can be installed depending on the situation if the block cannot be resolved. Depending on the type of arrhythmia, antiarrhythmic medications like beta-blockers, amiodarone, and others may also be used. As each patient's cause of illness, severity, and physical constitution vary, it is essential to undergo personalized treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
1min 15sec home-news-image

How is myocarditis cured?

Myocarditis often has a self-limiting course, and viral infection is a common cause of myocarditis. Currently, there is no specific treatment for viral myocarditis. Treatments are divided into two main categories: general treatment, primarily consisting of rest. Generally, patients should rest in bed for more than three months, while also paying attention to their diet by eating easily digestible foods rich in vitamins and proteins. The second category is drug treatment, which mainly supports heart function. In cases of heart failure, diuretics, vasodilators, and ACE inhibitors should be administered. For arrhythmias, anti-arrhythmic treatment is necessary. If viral myocarditis is confirmed, antiviral treatment should be given. Additionally, drugs that enhance myocardial metabolism, such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate, coenzyme A, or adenosine triphosphate, should also be used. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Is pediatric myocarditis curable?

Myocarditis in children is generally caused by a viral infection, which means viral myocarditis is the most common type. This condition indicates that the virus has damaged the myocardial cells, leading to severe symptoms such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Once myocarditis is diagnosed in a child, it is crucial to hospitalize and treat them actively. While treating myocarditis, it is essential to use medications that nourish the myocardium and actively treat the primary disease. Most children with myocarditis have a favorable prognosis, but fulminant myocarditis has a poor prognosis, carrying a certain risk of mortality.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
1min 15sec home-news-image

Myocarditis is what?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, primarily caused by viral infections. Typically, signs of infection such as fever, generalized fatigue, muscle soreness, or gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting appear one to three weeks before the onset of myocarditis. Patients may experience palpitations, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, edema, and even fainting or sudden death. Clinically, viral myocarditis is mostly diagnosed due to arrhythmias as the main complaint or primary symptom, and in rare cases, it can lead to fainting or Aschoff's syndrome. For patients with myocarditis, timely examinations like myocardial enzymes, troponins, electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI are crucial to confirm the diagnosis. Appropriate treatment should be administered to prevent the myocarditis from progressing to cardiac arrest or heart failure.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
54sec home-news-image

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.