Question
A one-year-old baby has a fever and a urine test shows elevated lymphocytes, indicating a viral infection. However, the creatine kinase level is high at 207, above the normal range. Everything returns to normal after the fever subsides. Could there be myocarditis?
Answer
Myocarditis refers to inflammatory changes in the myocardium caused by various reasons, which may include palpitations, blackouts and fainting, chest tightness, chest pain, severe myocardial damage, or heart failure. Generally speaking, fever can cause an increase in creatine kinase levels, which is usually related to viral infections and represents myocardial damage caused by viral infection. Once the body temperature returns to normal, creatine kinase levels can return to normal as well. Therefore, this does not necessarily indicate myocarditis.