What tests are done for myocarditis?

Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
Updated on June 04, 2025
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First is the electrocardiogram, which can show STT changes, including mild ST segment shift and T wave inversion, and various arrhythmias, especially ventricular arrhythmias and atrioventricular conduction blocks. Next is the cardiac ultrasound, also known as echocardiography, which can be normal or show left ventricular enlargement, reduced left ventricular motion, and decreased left ventricular systolic function. Another method is cardiac MRI, which mainly shows evidence of cardiac damage, and this has significant implications for the diagnosis of myocardial conditions. Additionally, biochemical tests include elevated cardiac enzymes, troponin, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and other non-specific inflammatory markers. Moreover, there is cardiac biopsy, which is generally invasive and thus mainly used in patients with severe conditions, poor treatment response, or unknown causes. This test is generally not used in patients with mild symptoms. Other tests include chest X-rays and etiological examinations.

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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 Xiao Chang Jiang
Cardiology
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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 Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Does pediatric myocarditis cause high fever?

Myocarditis in children is usually caused by fever, or subsequent to some viral infectious diseases. That is to say, myocarditis can accompany symptoms of fever, but it is generally due to fever, which in turn is caused by some viral infectious diseases that lead to myocarditis. Therefore, if a child with myocarditis also has fever, it indicates the presence of an infectious disease or viral infection. In such cases, in addition to treating the primary fever-inducing illness, attention must also be given to the treatment of the myocardium with nutritional medications. If a child has myocarditis, it is crucial to ensure plenty of rest, avoid strenuous activities, and prevent the disease from becoming protracted and unresolved, which could affect the clinical outcomes. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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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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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Can myocarditis heal itself?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Common causes include viral infections, while bacterial and fungal infections can also cause myocarditis, but these are relatively less common. The onset of myocarditis can vary; it may be rapid, occasionally leading to acute heart failure and sudden cardiac death. However, most cases of myocarditis are self-limiting, though they can also progress to dilated cardiomyopathy. For individuals presenting with flu-like symptoms such as fever, general fatigue, muscle soreness, nausea, and vomiting, or other gastrointestinal issues, it is advisable to provide rest and nutritional support treatment. This is because these cold symptoms might also be indicative of myocarditis. Therefore, general treatment, rest, and nutrition should be emphasized for patients with colds.