Endocarditis is the inflammation of the inner layer of the heart valves and cardiac chambers caused by a bacterial infection or, in rare occasions, by a virus or fungi.
The initial inflammation happens after a dentist manipulation through an injury or as a consequence of a surgery of the skin, soft tissues or bones.
Symptoms may develop suddenly (fever and fast heart rate, fatigue) or slowly (mild fever, weight loss, excessive sweating, anaemia and skin spots similar to freckles located on the palms of the hands, nails, soles of the feet and the whites of the eyes).
Diagnosis is reached through thorough medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, blood tests with cultures, chest X-ray, and cardiac ultrasound (Duke's criteria).
Treatment is based on the intravenous administration of antibiotics, medical treatment of symptoms. Surgical treatment may be required if there are severe complications.
- Sharon E O'Brien, MD. Infective endocarditis in children. UpToDate. Nov 02, 2015.
- Marom D, Levy I, Gutwein O, et al. Healthcare-associated versus community-associated infective endocarditis in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2011; 30:585.
- Penk JS, Webb CL, Shulman ST, Anderson EJ. Echocardiography in pediatric infective endocarditis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2011; 30:1109.
- Nishimura RA, Otto CM, Bonow RO, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol 2014; 63:e57.
