Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, which is the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. Endocarditis generally occurs when bacteria, fungi or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart.
Symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills
- A new or changed heart murmur, which is the heart sounds made by blood rushing through your heart
- Fatigue
- Aching joints and muscles
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain when you breathe
- Swelling in your feet, legs or abdomen
Uncommon symptoms:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blood in urine
- Tenderness of the spleen
- Janeway lesions (red spots on the soles of feet or the palms of the hands)
- Osler's nodes ( red, tender spots under the skin of fingers or toes)
- Petechiae (tiny purple or red spots on the skin, whites of the eyes, or inside the mouth).
Diagnosis
- Blood tests
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Treatment
- Antibiotics
- Surgery
