Casues
August 29th, 2008 at 11:31pm
Under Casues+ Chronic Perocarditits+ Details+ New+ overview
Pericarditis can be defined as inflammation of the thin and protective membrane that lines the heart from outside. The inflammation here means redness and swelling of the membrane. The membrane surrounds the heart and keeps it in its proper anatomical location. The heart is most delicate organ in the human body and any pressure on it makes it uncomfortable and painful. The membrane is closest to the heart and thus inflammation of the membrane makes heart to pain which is the first symptom of pericarditis.
In case of acute pericarditis, commonest symptom is sharp and stabbing chest pain that is felt just underneath the breastbone or slightly left side of the chest. Nevertheless, some of the people suffering from acute pericarditis report their chest pains as dull and achy or feeling like someone has put lots of pressure on their chests. The intensity varies and they describe that the pain may travel to their neck, left shoulder and then coming down to the left arm finally ending in left palm (called as radiating pain in medical science).
The chest pain is most discomfort among all the symptoms pericarditis features. The heart becomes heavy and there is a feeling of something that is crushing the heart. The pain generally steps up when the patient lies down or takes deep breath. Oppositely, it eases up when the patient sits up and leans forward. At times, it becomes difficult to differentiate between the pericardial chest pain and the pain that occurs during heart attack.
Apart from chest pain, there is some other symptoms pericarditis as mentioned below:-
§ Mild fever or feverish
§ Shortness of breath (medically known as dyspnea)
§ Coughing (generally with phlegm)
§ Hiccups (medically known as eructation)
§ Muscle-ache or severe body pain especially left part of the body.
§ Uneasiness
§ Congestion in the thorax/chest region
§ Giddiness (in some cases)
In some of the cases, people suffer from nausea, profuse sweating/perspiration that are associated with chest pain. There might be indigestion that ends up with constipation but not necessary in all the cases of pericarditis. Whatever the symptoms pericarditis has, it makes patient tired, very weak and exhausted. The condition certainly interrupts routine activities and level of consciousness.
The type of chest pain felt during the pericarditis is also different from the angina. The angina generally turns worse with exertion but remains unaffected with deep breathing. In case, the pericarditis is left untreated, it can develop its complications. The complication is fatal and the patient is at risk of sudden cardiac failure.
The symptoms of complication of pericarditis include severe breathlessness or shortness of breath (dyspnea) and irregular or rapid heartbeats all of a sudden. The coughing is severe and unbearable up to an extent that it becomes difficult for the patient to speak and to breathe. The cough might bring up foamy pink or yellow mucus. The sudden heart failure requires immediate medical attention that requires intensive cardiac care unit admission and proper treatment.
By admin
August 9th, 2008 at 03:17pm
Under Casues
When hearing to the heart with a stethoscope, the wellbeing care provider can discover a usual sound called a pericardial rub. The heart noise may be muffled or distant. There may be other indications of fluid in the pericardium (pericardial effusion).
If the disorder is critical, there may be crackles in the lungs, declined wind noise, or other indications of fluid in the space round the lungs (pleural effusion).
These checks display enlargement of the heart from fluid assemblage in the pericardium, and indications of inflammation. They may furthermore display blemishes and contracture of the pericardium (constrictive pericarditis). Other outcome alter counting on the origin of pericarditis.
An ECG is abnormal in 90% of patients with acute pericarditis. ECG alterations usually develop throughout the infection method, and they may imitate the ECG alterations of a heart attack. To direct out heart strike, successive cardiac marker grades (CK -MB and troponin I) may be ordered. Other lab checks may include:
* Blood culture
* CBC, may display expanded WBC count
* C-reactive protein
* Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
* Pericardiocentesis, with chemical investigation and pericardial fluid culture
In most kinds of pericarditis, it is essential to heal the agony with analgesics (pain killers). The inflammation of the pericardium is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) for example aspirin and ibuprofen. Iin some situations, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
Diuretics may be utilised to eliminate surplus fluid built up in the pericardial sac. If the buildup of pericardial fluid makes the heart function badly or makes cardiac tamponade, it is essential to drain the fluid from the sac. This method, called pericardiocentesis, may be finished utilising an echocardiography-guided needle or surgically in a secondary procedure.
Bacterial pericarditis should be treated with antibiotics. Fungal pericarditis is treated with antifungal agents.
If the pericarditis is chronic, recurrent, or determinants constrictive pericarditis, chopping or eliminating part of the pericardium may be recommended.
Pericarditis can variety from gentle situations that determination on their own to life-threatening situations perplexing by important fluid buildup round the heart and poor heart function. The conclusion is good if the disorder is treated promptly. Most persons retrieve in 2 weeks to 3 months.
Back to TopComplications
* Arrhythmias, for example atrial fibrillation. When pericarditis escorts myocarditis, other arrhythmias may be present, for example supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or entire heart block.
* Cardiac tamponade
* Constrictive pericarditis, where inflammation of the pericardial sac outcomes in fibrosis and condensing of the pericardium with adhesions (sticky scars) between the pericardium and the heart. The pericardium conceives a rigid “case” round the heart, which can harshly limit the proficiency of the heart to load up with blood. Patients with constrictive pericarditis may evolve heart malfunction, which answers badly to treatment. Constrictive pericarditis should be differentiated from a chronic heart status called restrictive cardiomyopathy, which makes symptoms and indications alike to constrictive pericarditis.
Call your wellbeing care provider if you know-how the symptoms of pericarditis. This disorder can be life-threatening if untreated.
By admin
August 9th, 2008 at 03:16pm
Under Casues
Pericarditis is generally a difficulty of viral diseases, most routinely echovirus or coxsackie virus. Less often, it is initiated by influenza or HIV infection. Infections with pathogens can lead to bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent pericarditis). Some fungal diseases can furthermore make pericarditis.
In supplement, pericarditis can be affiliated with systemic infections for example autoimmune disorders, rheumatic high warmth, tuberculosis, cancerous infection, leukemia, kidney malfunction, HIV contamination, AIDS, and hypothyroidism.
Heart strike (see post-MI pericarditis) and myocarditis can origin pericarditis, as can emission treatment to the barrel and medications that stifle the immune system. Pericarditis can furthermore be initiated by wound (including surgery) or trauma to the barrel, esophagus, or heart.
Quite often the origin of pericarditis continues unidentified, in which case it is called idiopathic pericarditis.
Pericarditis most often sways men elderly 20-50, generally following respiratory infections. In young children, it is most routinely initiated by adenovirus or coxsackie virus.
By admin