What is myocarditis?

4 May 2021

It is a condition in which the myocardium or heart muscle becomes inflamed causing arrhythmias and a deficiency in the pumping of blood that can lead to the formation of clots and trigger a stroke or heart attack. There are several causes for the appearance of this anomaly, including:

Bacterial infections.
Fungal infections.
Parasites.
Viral infections.

Occasionally, myocarditis can result from a medication allergy, illicit drugs, exposure to certain chemicals, or the presence of other diseases such as lupus.

Signs and symptoms Myocarditis

Symptoms vary depending on the cause that originates the myocarditis, but, in general, it includes:

Chest pain.
Edema in legs, feet, and ankles.
Trouble breathing.
Tiredness.
Arrhythmia.

If it is caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, the characteristic symptoms are:

Diarrhea.
Joint pain.
Headache.
Sore throat.
High fever.

Potential risks:

Myocarditis usually goes away without sequelae, but it can sometimes seriously affect the heart, causing:

Stroke.
Arrhythmias.
Heart attack.
Heart failure.
Death.

Diagnosis and treatment Myocarditis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request blood tests and diagnostic tests such as:

Echocardiogram.
Electrocardiogram.
Chest x-ray.
MRI.
Catheterization.
Heart muscle biopsy.

The treatment to be followed will depend on the cause of the condition and the severity of the symptoms. You may be prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatories, cardiac drugs, and corticosteroids, but if you have severe myocarditis, you will require intensive treatment, which includes intravenous medications, a ventricular assist device to help pump blood back into your body, the implantation of a catheter, and in extreme cases, a heart transplant.

At the Cardiovascular Center we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to take care of you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.

Related centers and departments Myocarditis

Cardiovascular Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

fundaciondelcorazon.com
myhealth.ucsd.edu
msdmanuals.com
mayoclinic.org
texasheart.org
medigraphic.org
Clavero-Adell M, Palanca-Arias D, Ayerza-Casas A, et al. Miocardiopatía dilatada tras miocarditis aguda: ¿Bordetella pertussis como agente etiológico?. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2020;41(1):21-25.
Hernández-Ortega AP, González-Guerrero MC, Arias-Amaral J, et al. Miocarditis aguda, manifestación inusual de loxoscelismo visceral. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(5):867-873.
Cruz PF, Webb WK, Vilchez LM, et al. Miocarditis eosinofílica. Rev Clin Esc Med. 2020;10(1):1-4.
Buelna CC, Nava TS, Cano ZR, et al. Miocarditis aguda asociada a neumonía por Streptococcus pneumoniae. An Med Asoc Med Hosp Saludora. 2019;64(1):64-67.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is myocarditis?

Signs and symptoms Myocarditis

Diagnosis and treatment Myocarditis

Related centers and departments Myocarditis

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Myocarditis