Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.
Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.
All Conditions
Acute & Subacute Endocarditis
by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023
This group contains additional names: - Fungal endocarditis - Mycotic aneurysm - Mycotic endocarditis
Acute endocarditis, also known as infective endocarditis, is a life threatening condition. During endocarditis, the heart’s chambers and valves inner lining is inflamed. Subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) is a slowly developing type of infective endocarditis. It can cause serious damage to the heart tissue as well as complications that affect the entire body. Endocarditis is typically caused by bacterial infection- the acute type is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus whilst the subacute form is usually caused by penicillin-sensitive Streptococcus viridans.. Enterococci are versatile and may produce either acute or subacute endocarditis. The pneumococcus nearly always produces an acute infection. People with artificial or damaged heart valves, heart devices, or other heart defects are at greater risk for endocarditis. The bacteria and fungi may enter the bloodstream from improper dental care, catheters and intravenous drug use. Endocarditis complications may include stroke, pulmonary embolism, abcesses in different organs, and kidney damage.
23 people with Acute & Subacute Endocarditis
Endocarditis, acute or subacute, symptoms may vary and are not very specific. These symptoms may include aching joints and muscles, chest pain, fatigue,flu-like symptoms, night sweats, shortness of breath, leg/feet/abdomen swelling, a new heart murmur, unexplained weight loss, spleen tenderness, red spots on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands, petechiae on the skin, inside the mouth or in the whites of the eyes.
Endocarditis diagnosis is based upon medical history and physical examination, including listening with a stethoscope to the heart. Further tests may include blood culture test, complete blood count or leukocytosis or anemia and an echocardiogram for cardiac function. An ECG can show the electrical heart activity, and it is not specific.
Endocarditis treatment includes high doses of antibiotics, first intravenously and then oraly. Valve replacement should be considered in selected patients with infectious endocarditis. People who are at greater risk for endocarditis it is recommended taking antibiotics before having any dental work done.
☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike
Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.
© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc