The heart is located inside the body in a "sac", a tissue that protects it. This is called the pericardium. Pericarditis, therefore, means inflammation, irritation of the pericardium, the tissue that is located around the heart.
Symptoms of pericarditis
Chest pain. Many patients characteristically report that this pain worsens when they lie down and is relieved when they sit up leaning forward. The pain also seems to worsen when we try to take a deep breath.
Fever (not always)
Diagnosis of pericarditis
Your doctor will diagnose pericarditis after examining you and taking your medical history.
In addition, the following are required:
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram - in some cases fluid may accumulate in the pericardium, around the heart, and will require closer monitoring
Blood tests
A combination of these helps to make the diagnosis of pericarditis.
Causes of pericarditis
Pericarditis can occur for various reasons, although most of the time it is unknown what caused the pericarditis.
Other causes that can cause pericarditis:
Infections - eg. a cold or gastroenteritis
History of radiation therapy to the area
Severe kidney failure
Rheumatic diseases - patients with a known history of a rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis may also develop pericarditis as part of the rheumatic condition
Mediterranean fever
Cancer
Treatment of pericarditis
In this case, we will discuss the most common picture of pericarditis that we see from infections or unknown etiology that appears to be inflammation in an acute phase. If another cause of pericarditis has been found, for example Mediterranean fever, the treatment may be different.
If you have been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, your doctor will give you (unless there is any contraindication):
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, and aspirin for a few days.
Colchicine - a drug that is usually given for 3 months in pericarditis
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