Carditis Rheumatic

Rheumatic carditis is an inflammatory heart disease (or endocarditis) that is associated with rheumatic diseases (rheumatism). It is an acute or chronic inflammatory process that can affect the heart muscle, heart valves (mainly mitral and aortic) and other tissues and structures of the heart.

Carditis can be caused by a variety of causes, but the most common is a bacterial infection. Other reasons may be:

- Some viruses such as HIV and hepatitis; - Pathogenic fungi; - Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus; - Infections caused by fungi or parasites.

Symptoms of rheumatic carditis include chest pain, shortness of breath (acute inflammation of the heart valve can lead to sudden loss of breathing), fever, fatigue, swelling and tiredness. In some cases, carditis may present with mild symptoms (for example, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract due to streptococcal infection), which makes it difficult to diagnose.

Diagnostic tests such as ECG (electrocardiography), cardiac ultrasound, and blood chemistry tests help doctors identify and differentiate between different types of carditis. Treatment of carditis may include drug therapy, including antibiotics and anticoagulants to prevent thromboembolic complications. Surgery may be required in some cases (heart valve reversal or heart valve replacement).

The consequences of carditis can be serious and fatal. These include heart attacks, arrhythmias and irregular heart rhythms.