Pericarditis
Description
The contractility and function of the heart are generally not compromised by the effect of pericarditis. Aside from infectious causes, pericarditis may be a secondary manifestation of myocardial infarction, kidney failure, a tumour or hypothyroidism. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or scleroderma can also cause pericarditis.
Symptoms
The main symptom is chest pain, which should be differentiated from angina or the pain caused by a hiatal hernia.
How is affected by the condition?
It affects all age groups and in younger patients (under 40 years old) it is usually caused by a virus.
Diagnosis
It can be done by auscultation (a friction noise can be heard when the heart contracts), by electrocardiogram (specific alterations) or echocardiogram
Typical treatment
It depends on the cause, since it is the cause that needs to be treated. In the case of viral pericarditis, the treatment is usually anti-inflammatory, usually with a very good outcome.
Typical test
Heart auscultation, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram.
Prevention
There is no specific prevention because pericarditis is a secondary manifestation of an uncontrollable infection or another illness.