Myocarditis - pediatric - Symptom

Symptoms:

Symptoms may be mild at first and difficult to detect.

In newborns and infants, symptoms may sometimes appear suddenly and may include:

• Anxiousness
• Failure to thrive or poor weight gain
• Feeding difficulties
• Fever and other symptoms of infection
• Heart failure
• Listlessness
• Low urine output (a sign of decreasing kidney function)
• Pale hands and feet (a sign of poor circulation)
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heart rate

Symptoms in children over age 2 may also include:

• Belly area pain and nausea
• Chest pain
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Swelling (edema) in the legs, feet, and face

Signs and tests:

Pediatric myocarditis can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms often mimic those associated with other heart and lung diseases.

The doctor may hear a rapid heartbeat or abnormal heart sounds while listening to the child' s chest with a stethoscope. A physical examination may detect fluid in the lungs and swelling in the legs in older children.

There may be signs of infection, including fever, rashes, red throat, itchy eyes, and swollen joints.

A chest x-ray can show enlargement (swelling) of the heart. An electrocardiogram and echocardiogram should also be done.

Further tests may include:

• Blood cultures to check for infection
• Blood tests to look for antibodies against the heart muscle and the body itself
• Blood tests to check liver and kidney function
• Complete blood count
• Heart biopsy (the most accurate way to confirm the diagnosis)