Endocarditis - types, signs. Treatment of infectious endocarditis and other types
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart in cardiology is called endocarditis. Most often, the cause of endocarditis is the penetration of an infectious agent directly into the tissues of the heart. However, other pathologies of internal organs can also provoke inflammation. With timely diagnosis and competent treatment, the prognosis of the disease is favorable. Otherwise, death is possible.
Types and symptoms of endocarditis
The classification was made to systematize and differentiate the signs of the disease, to understand how therapy should be carried out in each specific case. The clinical picture depends on the type of pathology:
Infectious endocarditis. It can be primary and secondary. In the first case, we are talking about the penetration of an infectious agent into healthy tissues of the heart, in the second - about the spread of the infection to the already damaged valves of the organ. Criteria for infective endocarditis:
- can occur in acute and subacute form;
- in the absence of competent treatment, it transforms into a chronic form;
- complications are often diagnosed even after complete recovery - thrombosis, detachment of vegetative vessels, perforation (formation of holes) of the valve.
Characteristic symptoms of infectious endocarditis are an increase in body temperature, pain in the head and muscles, rash on the skin, excessive sweating.
Rheumatic endocarditis. The most common type of disease is conditionally divided into several subspecies:
- acute warty – ulcers are formed on the surface of the inner lining of the heart, which resemble warts in shape;
- diffuse - endocarditis of the mitral valve of the heart, can be called a rheumatic disease;
- recurrent warty – formations on the tissues of the heart are formed after the treatment of the acute form. The subspecies is perfectly diagnosed on the ECG;
- fibroplastic – the final stage of disease development.
Symptoms of rheumatic endocarditis are uncharacteristic. Therefore, to differentiate this type of pathology, it is necessary to carry out a specific examination of the patient. The patient complains of shortness of breath during physical exertion, and then at rest, aching pains in the chest, rapid heartbeat. A characteristic feature of subacute rheumatic endocarditis is "drum fingers" - thickening of the last phalanx of the fingers.
Bacterial endocarditis. It develops as a result of damage to the inner lining of the heart by pathogenic bacteria. Symptoms of bacterial endometritis are similar to the infectious form of this pathology - the patient complains of weakness, increased fatigue, unmotivated increase in body temperature, formation of the nail plate in the form of an hourglass.
For suspicion of bacterial endocarditis, the doctor will conduct a full examination of the patient, and the real causative agent of the inflammatory process will be revealed. This approach to diagnostics guarantees the appointment of effective therapy.
General principles of endocarditis treatment
The therapy scheme is selected by a cardiologist individually and depends on what kind of inflammation of the inner lining of the heart was diagnosed. Treatment of infective endocarditis must be carried out in hospital conditions. After two weeks of inpatient therapy, the patient is discharged for outpatient treatment.
Treatment of infectious endocarditis is reduced to the appointment of antibacterial drugs for a course of 5 weeks. Such duration of treatment often causes a number of complications, namely: intestinal microflora disturbances, excessive loads on the liver, and poor functioning of the urinary system.
Treatment of warty endocarditis consists in treating the underlying disease, taking anti-inflammatory drugs and means that prevent the formation of blood clots. If this type of disease occurs in an uncomplicated form, then the course of treatment is carried out in an outpatient setting, but under the regular supervision of doctors.
Clinical recommendations for septic endocarditis:
- immediate implementation of powerful, aggressive antibacterial therapy;
- individual selection of anti-inflammatory drugs;
- short course of plasmapheresis (blood purification).
Surgical treatment of endocarditis is prescribed extremely rarely, when drug therapy does not give positive results. If focal lesions of the heart valve were detected during the operation, then after recovery the patient is referred for prosthetics of these departments. Pathological changes in the heart valves occur during the development of any type of pathology - this is a classic complication after endocarditis. It can be avoided only in case of early diagnosis and qualified treatment.
Preventive measures
Endocarditis is one of the few heart diseases that can be prevented. Doctors give the following recommendations:
- Treat any infection in a timely manner, even if it is a simple sore throat. In no case can you "carry" it on your feet. Bed rest, medication and folk medicine will reduce the load on the heart.
- If you experience even a slight discomfort in the chest area and shortness of breath during physical exertion, you should visit a cardiologist and undergo an examination. When endocarditis is detected at an early stage, recovery occurs in 98% of cases.
- If there is a history of any heart disease, in particular congenital defects, mandatory professional examinations with a special examination are recommended. Prevent pathogenic bacteria and infectious agents from entering the body. Be sure to strengthen immunity.
More details about how to avoid the development of inflammation of the inner lining of the heart and how to prevent rheumatic endocarditis can be found on our website https://dobrobut.com / .
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