Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle cells. It may be a complication of infection with one of a number of viruses, including those that cause influenza. While in the adult the main symptoms are tiredness and shortness of breath, the infant or young child may simply demonstrate the signs of heart failure with fast heart rate and shortness of breath, together with swelling of limbs and the abdomen due to retained fluid.
There is, of course, no treatment for most viral illnesses - and so the treatment is for heart failure while the body rids itself of the virus. The outcome depends on the degree of damage done to the heart muscle, though complete recovery is the rule. Rarely, in cases where severe damage results in congestive cardiomyopathy, heart transplantation may be required.
|
