Myocarditis is a medical condition in which the myocardium, a heart muscle, gets inflamed. It is a rare cardiovascular disease that enlarges the heart, degenerates the heart muscle cells, and develops scar tissues. These factors force the heart to work harder to supply blood and oxygen all over the body.
Generally, people relate heart conditions to old age. However, myocarditis is likely to affect anyone, regardless of age. In fact, the high-risk population includes young adults.
A wide range of possible agents like viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, autoimmune responses, and certain medications can trigger this disease. Some of the common symptoms of myocarditis include chest pain, irregular or rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, accumulation of fluid with swelling in lower extremities, fever, fatigue, etc.
In most cases, myocarditis improves on its own without treatment and with complete recovery. Sometimes, treatment of the underlying cause like bacterial infections by antibiotics can lead to full recovery. Consequently, the diagnosis of the underlying cause of myocarditis can help in best possible treatment. However, individuals with more prolonged or severe cases of myocarditis may need more specific medications or even hospitalization.
