Does myocarditis require hospitalization?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
Updated on March 26, 2025
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Myocarditis is an infectious disease caused by viral infection leading to myocardial damage. Particularly extensive myocardial damage can pose significant risks to life and cause serious complications. Common complications include heart failure and arrhythmias, with severe cases possibly leading to sudden death. Therefore, patients with myocarditis must be hospitalized for treatment. Under the observation of doctors and nurses, effective rest can be ensured, and treatments such as antiviral and myocardial nutrition can be applied to prevent the occurrence of complications.

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Does myocarditis cause a fever?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory heart disease, commonly caused by viral infections, with the Coxsackievirus being the most common. Other infections, such as bacterial, fungal, and Rickettsia, can also cause myocarditis. These infectious myocarditis cases generally show preliminary symptoms of infection, such as fever, in the 1 to 3 weeks before the onset of the disease. Fever indicates a high body temperature, which means the same as having a fever. However, there are also non-infectious forms of myocarditis, such as those caused by drugs, radiation, or connective tissue diseases, and these non-infectious types of myocarditis do not always involve a fever.

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How is myocarditis diagnosed?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, which can be confirmed by the following tests: Chest X-rays can show an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Electrocardiograms can reveal changes in the ST-T segments, and various arrhythmias may also occur, especially ventricular arrhythmias and atrioventricular conduction blocks. Echocardiography might be normal, or it might show enlargement of the left ventricle and weakened wall motion. Cardiac MRI is of significant importance for the diagnosis of myocarditis, showing patchy enhancement of the myocardium. Biochemical blood tests can show elevated non-specific inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein, and elevated levels of myocardial enzymes and troponin. Serological testing for viruses can suggest a cause but is not definitive for diagnosis. Finally, endomyocardial biopsy, besides diagnosing, can also aid in assessing the condition and prognosis. However, it is invasive, so it is generally used only in urgent and severe cases, cases with poor treatment response, or in patients with undiagnosed causes. It is not commonly performed in patients with mild conditions.

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Is myocarditis easy to treat?

Myocarditis refers to the inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Symptoms of myocarditis can vary greatly; some individuals may exhibit no symptoms, while others may experience cardiogenic shock or sudden death. Currently, there are no specific treatments for myocarditis. Patients should avoid exertion, rest appropriately, and receive nutritional support. It is advised to encourage patients to consume a diet that is easy to digest and rich in vitamins and proteins. For asymptomatic patients, attention should be paid to rest and nutrition. However, in cases where there is left ventricular dysfunction, treatment primarily supports these symptoms. For instance, in the event of heart failure, diuretics, vasodilators, or ACE inhibitors might be administered. Most cases of myocarditis are self-limiting, but there are occasional instances of fulminant or severe myocarditis, which should be taken seriously. Therefore, the treatability of myocarditis is related to the extent and location of the pathological changes. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Do children with myocarditis have a fever?

In general, viral myocarditis is the most common form of myocarditis in children. This condition can be caused by various viruses such as influenza, parainfluenza, Coxsackie virus, adenovirus, etc., affecting the pediatric cardiac muscle tissue, which in turn can lead to symptoms of myocarditis. Since it is an infectious disease, fever is a common symptom. Fevers associated with myocarditis might present as high or moderate. Treatment primarily focuses on cardiac recovery, nourishing the cardiac muscle, steroids, and immunoglobulins, among others. Severe myocarditis is a critical condition that requires timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid worsening the situation.

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Can people with myocarditis drink alcohol?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Its pathogenesis is due to direct damage to the myocardium caused by viruses, and the interaction of the virus with the body's immune response to both myocardial injury and microvascular damage, which impairs the structure and function of the myocardial tissue. Drinking alcohol affects the myocardium and can also cause damage to it. Therefore, alcohol should not be consumed with myocarditis, as drinking can further aggravate the myocardium, leading to heart failure.