What is the cause of pericardial effusion with persistent high fever?

Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

If the patient presents with pericardial effusion and experiences elevated body temperature, it may indicate the presence of an infection, suggesting that the symptoms are worsening. Currently, the treatment for pericardial effusion primarily involves puncture, fluid extraction, and laboratory analysis. If the pericardial effusion is severe or abundant, fever may occur. Since fever is an indicator of inflammation, it is necessary to use antibiotics for active treatment in order to control this condition. If the body temperature continues to rise, sometimes it is also necessary to use antipyretic drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Persistent high fever indicates that the condition has become very serious, signaling that the infection indices are extremely severe.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
51sec home-news-image

Does pericardial effusion require diuresis?

Whether pericardial effusion requires diuretic treatment depends on the cause of the pericardial effusion. If the pericardial effusion is caused by heart failure, the patient often experiences symptoms of heart failure such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the limbs. In this case, diuretic treatment is necessary. Appropriate diuretic treatment can effectively improve the symptoms of heart failure, reduce the degree of pericardial effusion, and may even avoid the need for pericardial puncture. If the pericardial effusion is caused by tuberculosis, diuretic treatment often cannot effectively reduce the pericardial effusion. If the amount of pericardial fluid is large, puncture and fluid extraction are often needed to improve symptoms, while actively treating the tuberculosis causing the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
47sec home-news-image

Can you exercise with pericardial effusion?

If the patient has pericardial effusion, it is acceptable to encourage them to participate in outdoor activities, but they should exercise moderately and not too vigorously, especially avoiding strenuous physical workouts. Also, aerobic exercises should be moderate, and they should not spend too long on outdoor activities. Decisions should be made based on the individual's condition. If the condition of heart failure is severe, it is advisable for the patient to rest primarily. Particularly in terms of diet, the intake of sodium should be restricted. Sometimes, excessive intake of sodium can exacerbate symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties. These are serious symptoms that require active management and treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
57sec home-news-image

Pericardial effusion usually requires attention to the following aspects:

If the patient has pericardial effusion, it is still necessary to maintain a light diet, eat small meals frequently, and especially avoid spicy and irritating foods. Meanwhile, patients should pay attention to regular re-examinations of cardiac echocardiography and electrocardiograms, as the most effective and direct method for diagnosing pericardial effusion is puncture and fluid extraction for examination. For minor amounts of pericardial effusion, it is recommended that patients first observe and use medication, which can also help alleviate symptoms. During this period, it is important to monitor changes in the patient's blood pressure and heart rate. If blood pressure rises or heart rate increases rapidly, it can exacerbate pericardial effusion. However, it is still crucial to actively use medication for early intervention, which can also help alleviate symptoms, and actively prevent upper respiratory infections.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
55sec home-news-image

Can pericardial effusion cause chest pain?

Pericardial effusion is a type of cardiovascular disease, and if it is severe, it can cause chest pain. This is primarily due to changes in heart function, with patients mainly experiencing symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. If chest pain occurs, it indicates that the symptoms are very severe, and it is recommended to seek active treatment at a hospital, using medications to control heart failure or performing fluid extraction for examination. For the treatment of pericardial effusion, percutaneous fluid drainage can be chosen, which can also alleviate the patient’s condition. Generally, chest pain could also be caused by pericardial effusion. During this period, it's important to monitor changes in the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse. If blood pressure is too high or heart rate is too fast, it needs to be addressed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
54sec home-news-image

Can pericardial effusion cause fever?

Pericardial effusion can sometimes cause fever. If the patient has a fever, it may indicate a poor prognosis and suggest the presence of an infection. In such cases, antibiotics should be used for treatment, along with measures to reduce the fever. If the effusion is caused by other diseases, it is still necessary to actively treat the underlying condition. Currently, for pericardial effusion, if the volume of the effusion is small, it can be absorbed by the body itself. However, if there is a large amount of effusion, the patient might experience symptoms like chest tightness, palpitations, and difficulty breathing. In such cases, it may be necessary to perform a puncture for fluid drainage and examination. If fever occurs during this period, indicating an infection, anti-inflammatory medications should be used for treatment. If necessary, corticosteroid medications might also be needed.