The causes of myocarditis

Written by Zhao Le Le

Cardiology

Updated on June 05, 2025

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The main causes of myocarditis are:

First, myocarditis caused by infectious factors, with viral infections being the most common. The most prevalent viral infections include Coxsackie virus, followed by influenza virus, rubella virus, and measles virus. These conditions can all potentially lead to myocarditis. Infections caused by fungi, spirochetes, and particularly bacterial infections such as diphtheria can also trigger myocarditis.

Second, myocarditis can be caused by drug allergies and immune hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies to drugs like penicillin and sulfa drugs may cause myocarditis.

Third, toxic substances such as lead poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning can also lead to myocarditis.

Moreover, patients with connective tissue diseases that affect the myocardium can also develop myocarditis.

Therefore, there are many causes of myocarditis, and it is crucial to seek active treatment. Most cases of myocarditis can be cured with standard treatments.

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Written by Xiao Chang Jiang

Cardiology

58sec

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Early manifestations of myocarditis

What are the early symptoms of myocarditis? In fact, most patients with myocarditis typically exhibit acute onset of symptoms, which generally occur 1 to 3 weeks after cardiac involvement, or they may simultaneously exhibit various degrees of viral infection symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, general malaise, muscle pain, skin rash, or nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These are its prodromal symptoms. Additionally, some patients exhibit systemic viral infection symptoms when the disease occurs, such as rubella, measles, epidemic mumps, viral hepatitis, and other diseases. Since the recovery rate of myocarditis in the acute and recovery phases is significantly higher than in the lingering or chronic phases, it is evident that treatment for myocarditis should be initiated as early as possible to increase the recovery rate.

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Written by Zhao Le Le

Cardiology

1min 10sec

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The causes of myocarditis

The main causes of myocarditis are: First, myocarditis caused by infectious factors, with viral infections being the most common. The most prevalent viral infections include Coxsackie virus, followed by influenza virus, rubella virus, and measles virus. These conditions can all potentially lead to myocarditis. Infections caused by fungi, spirochetes, and particularly bacterial infections such as diphtheria can also trigger myocarditis. Second, myocarditis can be caused by drug allergies and immune hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies to drugs like penicillin and sulfa drugs may cause myocarditis. Third, toxic substances such as lead poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning can also lead to myocarditis. Moreover, patients with connective tissue diseases that affect the myocardium can also develop myocarditis. Therefore, there are many causes of myocarditis, and it is crucial to seek active treatment. Most cases of myocarditis can be cured with standard treatments.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

50sec

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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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Written by Xiao Chang Jiang

Cardiology

1min 41sec

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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 Xiao Chang Jiang

Cardiology

1min 6sec

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What to eat for myocarditis?

For patients who already have myocarditis, what should we feed them? This is a question that confuses many people. In fact, patients with myocarditis should eat high-protein foods, high-vitamin foods, and those that are low in calories or easy to digest, such as a low-salt diet. It is recommended to eat small meals frequently and avoid foods that are spicy, heavily flavored, or irritating. For high-vitamin foods, the main choices include fruits, some vegetables, bean sprouts, kelp, seaweed, and black fungus, all of which are very good options. Low-calorie foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, job's tears, and papaya are also good choices. High-protein foods include soybeans, peanuts, seaweed, mushrooms, nuts, milk, lean meats, eggs, fish, shrimp, and more. We also recommend easily digestible foods, like millet porridge and noodles, as well as a low-salt diet, recommending a daily salt intake of no more than 3 grams for patients with myocarditis.