carditis

Carditis is inflammation of the heart, a general term for inflammation of one or more cardiac tissues. It is not a specific diagnosis; clinicians usually specify pericarditis (pericardium), myocarditis (myocardium), endocarditis (endocardium), or pancarditis if several layers are involved.

Causes include infections (viruses most common in myocarditis; bacteria in endocarditis; often viral or postinfectious in pericarditis), autoimmune disorders, drug reactions, and toxins. Risk factors include existing heart disease, recent infection, immunosuppression, and exposure to certain medications.

Symptoms vary by type. Pericarditis presents with chest pain that worsens on lying flat and improves leaning forward, sometimes with a pericardial rub or effusion. Myocarditis can cause chest pain, fatigue, short of breath, palpitations, or heart failure. Endocarditis often features fever, a new or changing heart murmur, and signs of systemic infection or emboli. Diagnosis relies on history, examination, ECG, echocardiography, and laboratory tests such as troponin, inflammatory markers, blood cultures, and cardiac MRI; biopsy is used selectively in myocarditis.

Treatment targets underlying causes and heart function. Pericarditis commonly responds to NSAIDs and colchicine. Myocarditis management is supportive, treating heart failure and arrhythmias; infection-specific therapy when indicated. Bacterial endocarditis requires prolonged IV antibiotics and possibly surgery; autoimmune conditions may require immunosuppression.

Prognosis varies; many cases resolve, but myocarditis can progress to dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmias. The term carditis is largely historical or descriptive; clinicians prefer specifying the involved layer.