Is pericarditis serious?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Pericarditis refers to a group of diseases mainly characterized by inflammation and effusion of the pericardium. The severity of pericarditis depends on the condition of the disease. Firstly, if the inflammation and effusion of the pericardium are not severe, patients often experience symptoms such as chest tightness or chest pain. In general, this type of pericarditis is not considered severe. Secondly, if the inflammation and effusion of the pericardium are more pronounced, it can lead to pericardial effusion, especially in cases of large amounts of pericardial fluid. At this time, the condition is often quite serious, and it is essential to undergo formal treatment under the guidance of a doctor, including pericardial drainage therapy.

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Early symptoms of acute pericarditis

The early symptoms of acute pericarditis are pain, which is located behind the sternum or in the precordial area, typically seen in the fibrin exudative type of inflammation. This pain arises from the friction between the visceral pericardium and the parietal pericardium. The nature of the pain is very sharp and related to respiratory movement, commonly exacerbated by coughing, deep breathing, or swallowing. The pain can radiate to the neck, left shoulder, and left arm. As fluid accumulates in the pericardium and the two layers of the pericardium separate, the pain may decrease or disappear.

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Cardiology
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Symptoms of acute pericarditis

Acute pericarditis is an acute inflammatory disease of the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium, with the most common cause being viral infections. The hallmark of acute pericarditis is pain in the precardiac area behind the sternum. The nature of the pain is very sharp, typically occurring during the fibrinous exudation phase of inflammatory changes, caused by friction between the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium. The pain can radiate to the neck, left shoulder, and even the upper abdomen. It is associated with respiratory movements and often worsens with coughing, deep breathing, or changing body positions. When fluid exudes into the pericardium, separating the visceral and parietal layers, the patient's pain may decrease or disappear. However, some patients may experience symptoms such as breathing difficulties and edema due to cardiac tamponade.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Tuberculous pericarditis differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis requires differentiation from other types of pericardial inflammation, such as bacterial pericarditis and nonspecific infections that lead to cellular inflammation of the pericardium. In addition to infections that can cause pericarditis, other infectious diseases such as subacute endocarditis and infections caused by other microbes can also lead to pericarditis. Furthermore, some rheumatic autoimmune diseases can also present with pericarditis. It is necessary to perform pericardiocentesis and fluid examination to determine the specific cause.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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What are the types of pericarditis?

Pericarditis includes primary infectious pericarditis, as well as non-infectious pericarditis caused by related diseases, such as tumors, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and uremia. Based on the progression of the condition, pericarditis can also be divided into acute pericarditis, with or without pericardial effusion, chronic pericarditis, adhesive pericarditis, subacute exudative constrictive pericarditis, and chronic constrictive pericarditis. Clinically, acute pericarditis and chronic constrictive pericarditis are the most common.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Symptoms of Acute Pericarditis

Acute pericarditis is not a common disease in daily life. What symptoms or clinical manifestations will appear after someone develops acute pericarditis? The clinical manifestations are mainly reflected in the following aspects: First, patients often experience chest pain and shortness of breath, and this pain often has a certain relationship with breathing. Second, the electrocardiogram often shows changes with ST segment elevation. Third, during a physical examination, doctors can often hear pericardial friction rub, or may feel the sensation of pericardial friction. Based on these symptoms and signs, doctors often make a diagnosis of acute pericarditis.