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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of myocarditis vary, depending on the cause and the severity of the disease. Common myocarditis symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- A rapid or abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Shortness of breath, at rest or during physical activity
- Fluid retention with swelling of your legs, ankles and feet
- Fatigue
- Other signs and symptoms you'd have with a viral infection, such as a headache, body aches, joint pain, fever, a sore throat or diarrhea
In mild cases, myocarditis may have no noticeable symptoms. You may feel ill and have general symptoms of a viral infection and never realize your heart is affected.
Myocarditis in children
When children develop myocarditis, they may experience these signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Fainting
- Breathing difficulties
- Rapid breathing
- Bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of myocarditis, particularly chest pain and shortness of breath. If you've had an infection, be alert for the symptoms of myocarditis and let your doctor know if they occur. If you have severe symptoms, go to the emergency room or call for emergency medical personnel.
- Allan CK, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of myocarditis in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2010.
- Cooper LT. Myocarditis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1526.
- Cooper LT. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of myocarditis in adults, http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2010.
- Schultz JC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of viral myocarditis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:1001.
- Bashore TM, et al. Heart disease. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3671. Accessed Jan. 16, 2010.
- O'Connell JB, et al. Myocarditis. In: Crawford MH. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Cardiology. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3647982. Accessed Jan. 16, 2010.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 25, 2010.
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