Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner heart lining. It is a very serious problem that needs immediate attention. This infection usually happens whenever a bacteria or germs from a different place in the body travel through the bloodstream. The infection will destroy heart valves when not treated promptly.

If your heart is healthy, this infection in rare. People that get endocarditis usually have valve problems, damaged valves, other heart problems such as atrial septal defect, or valves that are artificial.

Endocarditis can happen very quickly, or progress at a slow rate. The rate at which it affects a person depends on the the germs or bacteria involved invading the valve space.

Indicators of endocarditis are the following:

Fever is common.

Chills

Heart murmurs that are new

Fatigue

Feeling achy in muscles and joints

Sweating at night

Pale or washed out look

Coughing that is very persistent

Feet or legs that swell

Weight Loss

Blood in the urine

Spleen has tenderness there.

Red or tender spots under the skin may come under the fingers.

Tiny purple spots may appear in the whites of the eyes or mouth.

Causes:

Bacteria, that live in the mouth can create a situation causing this heart infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases, intestional disorders, and skin sores can bring on bacteria situations whereby the bacteria travels through the bloodstream into the heart valves.

Catheters or needles can introduce bacteria into the system. This happens if doctors or nurses are not keeping their tools sterile enough.

Some dental and respiratory procedures may introduce dangerous bacterias to the bloodstream, allowing for the heart valves to be infected.

If your immune system is strong, it can fight off bacteria that enters your system. Many times bacteria will pass through heart valves without starting trouble. But those people that have a heart disorder to begin with are at the highest risk.

Diagnosing this heart infection involves the following:

Blood tests in a culture form. This culture of the blood can show bacteria within the bloodstream. A blood test for anemia is also important.

An echocardiogram that is an transesophageal one uses sound waves that show pictures of the heart working. This echocardiogram helps your doctor to see infections within the tissues. With this test, they will have an ultrasound device which is put into your mouth and esophagus.

This heart infection can bring on clumps of bacteria, which causes them to go into your heart right to the site of the infection. The danger of these clumps can come loose, and go through the brain site, the lungs, or even abdominal area or kidneys. If this happens, then other problems which can mean a stroke, and other organ damage.

This heart infection is usually treated in the hospital with IV drugs that are powerful to kill it. Just taking regular antibiotics will not clear it up, and more intervention is needed.

If the infection is not treated, it will gradually destroy the heart's lining, and cause cardiac arrest.

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