Pericarditis

Dr. Ayush PandeyMBBS,PG Diploma

December 14, 2018

March 06, 2020

Pericarditis
Pericarditis

What is pericarditis?

The pericardium is a double-layered thin sac on the surface of the heart, the inflammation, reddening and swelling of which is called pericarditis. Sometimes, extra fluids get accumulated in the pericardial layer, which is known as pericardial effusion. Pericarditis is usually an acute condition that develops suddenly and subsides after three months. It can affect individuals of all age groups but is commonly observed in men between 16 and 65 years of age.

What are its main signs and symptoms?

Pericarditis can cause chest pain that is very sharp and may worsen while coughing, swallowing and deep breathing. Other symptoms of pericarditis are:

What are the main causes?

The cause mostly remains unknown, but it is often due to the following:

How is it diagnosed and treated?

The following are the tests used for the diagnosis of pericarditis:

  • Imaging tests
    It includes MRI of the chest and heart, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and CT scan of the heart.
  • Lab tests
    Troponin I test to check damage to the heart muscle, blood culture, complete blood count, tuberculin skin test, HIV test, antinuclear antibody test and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

The course of treatment depends upon the cause. The following are the treatments based on the cause:

  • Medications based on the type of infection
    Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections, antifungal medicines for fungal infections, and antivirals for viral infections.
  • Other medications
    Corticosteroids like prednisone and diuretics to remove the accumulated fluid from the body.
  • Pericardiocentesis
    It is the process of fluid drainage from the sac using a needle.
  • Pericardiectomy
    This is a surgery used in extreme cases and involves the removal of the damaged part of the pericardium. It is used only for long-standing pericarditis.



References

  1. Cleveland Clinic. [Internet]. Cleveland, Ohio. Pericarditis.
  2. National Health Service [Internet]. UK; Pericarditis.
  3. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: US National Library of Medicine; Pericarditis.
  4. National Health Portal [Internet] India; Pericarditis.
  5. Dababneh E, Siddique MS. Pericarditis. [Updated 2019 Apr 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-.

Medicines for Pericarditis

Medicines listed below are available for Pericarditis. Please note that you should not take any medicines without doctor consultation. Taking any medicine without doctor's consultation can cause serious problems.