Difference between myocarditis and myocardial injury

Written by Tao Kun

Geriatrics

Updated on September 05, 2024

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Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardial cells caused by a virus that has not been timely cleared following a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. It is a term used for disease diagnosis.

Myocardial injury, on the other hand, refers to the necrosis of myocardial cells due to various factors, including viral myocarditis and myocardial ischemia caused by the narrowing of coronary arteries. Therefore, myocardial injury is a state diagnosis, not a term used for disease diagnosis. Myocardial injury usually leads to elevated levels of troponin.

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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

1min 15sec

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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 Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

1min 1sec

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How is myocarditis diagnosed?

The examination of myocarditis includes several aspects: First, the biochemical blood test shows that white blood cells can increase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate can accelerate, and both cardiac enzymes and troponins can rise. There may also be abnormalities in the electrocardiogram, such as arrhythmias or ST-segment changes. In addition, there are X-ray examinations, which can show an enlarged heart shadow or pulmonary congestion. Echocardiograms may not show any specific changes or can exhibit phase-dependent or regional abnormalities in ventricular wall motion. Furthermore, nuclear imaging and magnetic resonance imaging indicate the presence of fluttering and inflammatory changes. The virological examination can isolate the virus through throat swabs or stool samples, and if necessary, an endocardial or myocardial biopsy can be performed.

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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

48sec

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Causes of Myocarditis

Myocarditis is also an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Common causes are viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, Parvovirus B19, Human Herpesvirus 6, and Poliovirus, with Coxsackievirus B being the most common cause, accounting for about 30%-50%. Bacteria, fungi, spirochetes, rickettsiae, and protozoa can also cause myocarditis, but they are relatively rare. Non-infectious causes of myocarditis include drugs, radiation, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, giant cell myocarditis, among others. These are all causes of myocarditis.

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Written by Chen Si

Pediatrics

1min 16sec

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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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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

57sec

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Is it good to soak your feet if you have myocarditis?

For myocarditis, whether soaking feet is good or bad is irrelevant because soaking feet has no effect on the treatment of myocarditis. For the treatment of myocarditis, there is general treatment and medication treatment. General treatments typically aim to reduce the cardiac load, such as resting and providing easily digestible food rich in vitamins and proteins, and soaking feet offers no benefit in these respects. Additionally, myocarditis should be treated with medications, including diuretics, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors as appropriate. If arrhythmias occur, anti-arrhythmic drugs should be provided, and if a viral infection is confirmed, specific antiviral treatment should be administered. Therefore, soaking feet is not significantly relevant. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)