Pericarditis (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Pericarditis (patient information)
Articles
Most recent articles on Pericarditis (patient information) Most cited articles on Pericarditis (patient information) Review articles on Pericarditis (patient information) Articles on Pericarditis (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Pericarditis (patient information) Images of Pericarditis (patient information) Photos of Pericarditis (patient information) Podcasts & MP3s on Pericarditis (patient information) Videos on Pericarditis (patient information)
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Pericarditis (patient information) Bandolier on Pericarditis (patient information) TRIP on Pericarditis (patient information)
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Pericarditis (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Pericarditis (patient information) Clinical Trials on Pericarditis (patient information) at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pericarditis (patient information) NICE Guidance on Pericarditis (patient information) NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Pericarditis (patient information) CDC on Pericarditis (patient information)
Books
Books on Pericarditis (patient information)
News
Pericarditis (patient information) in the news Be alerted to news on Pericarditis (patient information) News trends on Pericarditis (patient information)
Commentary
Blogs on Pericarditis (patient information)
Definitions
Definitions of Pericarditis (patient information)
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Pericarditis (patient information) Discussion groups on Pericarditis (patient information) Patient Handouts on Pericarditis (patient information) Directions to Hospitals Treating Pericarditis (patient information) Risk calculators and risk factors for Pericarditis (patient information)
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Pericarditis (patient information) Causes & Risk Factors for Pericarditis (patient information) Diagnostic studies for Pericarditis (patient information) Treatment of Pericarditis (patient information)
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Pericarditis (patient information)
International
Pericarditis (patient information) en Espanol Pericarditis (patient information) en Francais
Business
Pericarditis (patient information) in the Marketplace Patents on Pericarditis (patient information)
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Pericarditis (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Prashant Sharma

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is Diseases of the pericardium?

Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed.

What are the symptoms of Diseases of the pericardium?

• Chest pain, caused by the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart

May radiate to the neck, shoulder, back, or abdomen Often increases with deep breathing and lying flat, and may increase with coughing and swallowing. Pleuritis type: a sharp, stabbing pain Usually relieved by sitting up and leaning forward

• Fever
• Ankle, feet, and leg swelling (occasionally)
• Anxiety
• Breathing difficulty when lying down
• Dry cough
• Fatigue
• Need to bend over or hold the chest while breathing

What causes Diseases of the pericardium?

Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. Less frequently, it is caused by influenza or HIV infection.

Infections with bacteria can lead to bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent(pus) pericarditis). Some fungal infections can also produce pericarditis.

In addition, pericarditis can be associated with diseases such as:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancer (including leukemia)
• HIV infection and AIDS
• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney failure
• Rheumatic fever
• Tuberculosis

Other causes include:

Heart attack (see post-MI pericarditis) Injury (including surgery) or trauma to the chest, esophagus(food pipe), or heart Medications that suppress the immune system Myocarditis Radiation therapy to the chest Often the cause of pericarditis remains unknown. In this case, the condition is called idiopathic(unknown cause) pericarditis.

Pericarditis most often affects men aged 20 - 50. It usually follows respiratory infections. In children, it is most commonly caused by adenovirus or coxsackie virus.

When to seek urgent medical care

Pericarditis can be potentially life threatening and one should seek medical care when suffering from symptoms of pericarditis. Severe chest pain, fainting, palpitations and high grade fever maybe ominous signs and may indicate build up of fluids within the pericardium, called cardiac tamponade.

Treatment options

The cause of pericarditis must be identified, if possible.

Medications include:

• Analgesics for pain
• Antibiotics for bacterial pericarditis
• Antifungal medications for fungal pericarditis
• ppAspirin]] or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen for inflammation of the pericardium
• orticosteroids such as prednisone
• Colchicine
• Diuretics to remove excess fluid in the pericardial sac

If the buildup of fluid in the pericardium makes the heart function poorly or produces cardiac tamponade, it is necessary to drain the fluid from the sac. This procedure, called pericardiocentesis, may be done using an echocardiography-guided needle or minor surgery.

If the pericarditis is chronic, recurrent, or causes constrictive pericarditis, cutting or removing part of the pericardium may be recommended.

Where to find medical care for Diseases of the pericardium

Directions to Hospitals Treating Diseases of the pericardium