Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart, valves or larger blood vessels, as well as foreign bodies that may be in the heart and system. The endocarditis is caused by the action of bacteria that attack the body when damage to the endocardium - the inner wall of the heart.

What is endocarditis?

Endocarditis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation of the heart, larger blood vessels and valves. The most common cause of this ailment are bacteria that attack our body in case of endocardial damage (i.e. the inner wall of the heart). Too late diagnosis can lead to both heart failure and peripheral embolisms, which have the consequence of inflammation of other organs or heart attack. Endocarditis may be bacterial or rheumatic.

Endocarditis - Causes

We can distinguish:

• bacterial endocarditis,
• rheumatic endocarditis.

In the majority of cases, endocarditis causes bacteria in the body, mainly streptococci, but also staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria.

Bacterial endocarditis

Bacterial endocarditis may occur as a result of sepsis . It is caused by bacteria that attack the body and cause inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves, on which they develop microvasculously. These in turn lead to the formation of ulcers, holes and distortions - heart defects. In the blood of such patients, pathogens are commonly found that can be grown on appropriate media.

The symptoms of bacterial endocarditis include:

murmurs in the heart,

high fever,

general weakness of the patient,

accelerated heart rate,

quick fatigue,

chills,

sweats,

     pain in the joints,

anemia.

Rheumatic endocarditis

Rheumatic endocarditis is a condition that affects the endocarditis and the entire myocardium, including in the course of rheumatic fever - the inflammatory process refers to the total connective tissue. In the area of ​​heart valves, the swelling and swelling of the subcranial connective layers develop initially, and later on cellular infiltrates in the valves themselves, papillary fibrinous deposits and blood clots.

Who is the most exposed to endocarditis?

People who are at high risk of endocarditis include:

• people with artificial or biological heart valves implanted,
• people with acquired or congenital heart defects,
• patients having a heart stimulator,
• a separate one suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
• Drug addicts taking drugs intravenously,
• people who have cardiac catheterisation.

Symptoms of rheumatic endocarditis

The general symptoms characteristic of all inflammations that develop in the body are:

• general weakness,
• headaches,
• aching muscles and joints,
• high temperature,
• excessive sweating,
• lack of appetite,
• sometimes chest pains, abdominal pain and back pain.

During the development of the disease can be distinguished symptoms that are conditioned by the part of the heart that was attacked by inflammation. It can be a left or right side. The typical symptom of endocarditis - Osper's nodules (painful papules appearing on the feet and hands) is quite rare. Regardless of which heart chamber was attacked, the doctor detects murmurs during auscultation.

Occupation of the right part of the heart causes symptoms in the form of: weakness, fever, chills, sweating. In addition, chest pain and coughing are observed.

Occupation of the left part of the heart - predominant symptoms in the form of embolism, such as: painful swellings on the fingers and toes, ecchymosis located under the nails, faster fatigue, shortness of breath.

Endocarditis may cause inflammation to spread throughout the body. As an example, we can take the central nervous system, which after the attack causes neurological disorders. In contrast, the spleen infarction is characterized by abdominal pain on the left side. Symptoms of endocarditis may appear within the first few days of the onset of inflammation. Sometimes the disease develops insidiously as a chronic disease. Then the patients take various preparations that disrupt the picture of the disease and make it more difficult to make a diagnosis.

Endocarditis and sepsis

The disease in the form of endocarditis is a consequence of blood infection, so it is really sepsis. Therefore, it is important to implement the treatment as soon as possible because the patient may die. Bacteria getting into the blood of the patient, reach successively to each part of the body and in a very short time cause a multiorgan failure (starting from the heart).

Diagnosis of endocarditis

Diagnosis of endocarditis is based on the detection of bacteria in the body through blood culture. Other auxiliary tests include:

• echo of the heart - helps to reveal changes in the structure of the valves and possible leaks of blood,
• ECG examination - reveals changes that are the result of endocarditis, e.g. ischemic.

Endocarditis - treatment

The main method of treatment of endocarditis is the implementation of antibiotic therapy. The treatment should be carried out under a specialist doctor's eye, in a hospital setting (it can take up to six weeks). If the antibiotics taken do not bring the expected benefits, cardiac surgery is considered. This treatment is aimed at the removal of tissues infested by inflammation and repair of valves or implantation of valvular prostheses.

Prevention

In patients at risk, that is with valvular prostheses and heart defects, remember to give antibiotics during all medical procedures.