Alternative Names
Inflammation – heart muscle
Definition of Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Myocarditis is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that reach the heart.
Symptoms
There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:
Signs and tests
A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following:
Treatment
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the problem, and may involve:
Expectations (prognosis)
How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and your overall health. The outlook varies. Some people may recover completely. Others may have permanent heart failure.
Review
Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 5/4/2010
