Question
What are the symptoms of myocarditis?
Answer
The symptoms of myocarditis can vary greatly in severity, ranging from asymptomatic cases to those that may lead to cardiogenic shock or acute congestive heart failure, even posing a threat of death within hours or months. Typically, there are respiratory or gastrointestinal infection symptoms in the weeks or months before the onset of heart symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Subsequently, heart symptoms may appear, including fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and pale complexion. During examination, there may be signs such as a weakened first heart sound at the apex, tachycardia or bradycardia, and arrhythmias. The heart border may be normal or enlarged, blood pressure may drop, and the pulse may weaken. Depending on the severity of the condition, myocarditis can be categorized into mild, moderate, and severe types. Mild cases may have no symptoms or only changes in the electrocardiogram, or may manifest as lassitude, weakness, and loss of appetite. With treatment, recovery can occur within a few months or weeks. Moderate cases may include heart failure in addition to the aforementioned symptoms, with rapid progression of the disease. Children may refuse to eat, have a pale complexion, vomit, and have difficulty breathing. Severe cases may present with cardiogenic shock and rapid progression of the disease. If not treated promptly, death may occur within a few hours or months. Severe cases may also manifest as acute or chronic heart failure, with symptoms similar to those of moderate cases. Some cases may die rapidly due to acute heart failure. Chronic cases often accompany embolic phenomena or arrhythmias, and may even lead to myocardial infarction or sudden death.