What Are the Symptoms of Myocarditis?
Jul 21, 2020
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Kou Linlin
Introduction
What are the symptoms of myocarditis?
Common symptoms in patients with myocarditis include nausea and vomiting. This occurs because Coxsackievirus—the primary causative agent of myocarditis—enters the gastrointestinal tract via the oropharynx, leading to acute intestinal infection and subsequent viremia, which triggers gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Most patients with myocarditis experience generalized weakness (particularly in the limbs), and some may also experience chest pain of varying severity.
Myocarditis is a disease primarily characterized by localized or diffuse inflammatory lesions of the myocardium. Its clinical manifestations are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe complications such as life-threatening arrhythmias, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and even death.
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms in patients with myocarditis. This is primarily attributable to Coxsackievirus—the most frequent causative agent of myocarditis—which enters the gastrointestinal tract via the oropharynx, leading to acute gastroenteritis. Subsequent viremia induces gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. Prolonged vomiting may further result in electrolyte imbalances.
Most patients with myocarditis experience generalized weakness, profuse sweating, and pallor. Some also report chest pain of varying severity—sometimes brief, but occasionally persisting for several days. Typical manifestations of chest pain include acute left ventricular failure and a sensation of chest tightness.
In the early stages, patients may develop respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, cough, myalgia, and fever.
