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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post-myocarditis syndrome

Patients with myocarditis generally have a self-limiting condition; it can heal completely without any treatment. However, sometimes, some myocarditis cases are fulminant, leading to acute heart failure or sudden death. For self-limiting diseases, since the condition is relatively mild, not receiving timely treatment can leave sequelae, such as some dilated cardiomyopathies, which are often due to the transformation from myocarditis. Therefore, for patients with myocarditis, we should follow up and conduct regular reviews to avoid the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy.

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Is pediatric myocarditis serious?

The severity of myocarditis in children needs to be assessed by considering the child's clinical symptoms and corresponding clinical examinations comprehensively. Common clinical symptoms include chest tightness, fatigue, shortness of breath, etc. Most children have a history of upper respiratory tract infection before the symptoms appear. It is necessary to conduct routine blood tests, myocardial enzymes, troponin, myocardial antibodies, viral antibodies, electrocardiograms, and other relevant physicochemical examinations to further clarify the condition. Patients with mild symptoms and roughly normal laboratory results can improve on their own with rest. If there are clinical symptoms such as chest tightness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and related physicochemical examinations show abnormal changes, it is necessary to use medication to nourish the myocardium. During treatment, rest is advised, reduce fatigue, maintain emotional stability, and generally, the symptoms can improve within 10 to 15 days. For more severe cases, the treatment period may need to be extended accordingly.

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the recurrence rate of myocarditis

The most common type of myocarditis clinically seen is viral myocarditis, which is a localized or diffuse cardiac injury resulting from viral infections. Mild myocardial damage, when treated effectively under the guidance of a doctor, typically does not recur after recovery. Recurrence referred to involves serious myocardial damage, or lack of systematic treatment, leading to complications such as heart failure and arrhythmias. These complications often exacerbate under certain triggering factors like infections, colds, excessive fatigue, emotional excitement, overeating, constipation, etc., increasing the cardiac load and causing the recurrence of heart failure and arrhythmias.

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How long does myocarditis generally take to heal?

Acute myocarditis is an immune inflammation caused by viral infections, commonly occurring within two months after a viral infection. Treatment mainly involves symptomatic and supportive care, maintaining nutritional balance, supplementing vitamin C, resting, actively preventing colds, and the use of antiviral medications. Antibiotics should be used when there is a bacterial infection. Generally, myocarditis can heal, especially in patients with mild symptoms, typically recovering within three to four weeks. For those with myocardial infarction associated with inflammation or enlarged heart attack, rest is recommended for six months to a year until clinical symptoms completely disappear and the size of the heart returns to normal.

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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.