What is infective endocarditis?
Infective endocarditis is a bacterial infection (infection) in the choroid (endocardium) inside the heart, where the infection (bacteria) usually comes with blood flow. Heart valves, which are covered by the choroid, attacked. These flaps have the task of separating the heart chambers from each other as one-way valves, and for damage to the pumping work will be complicated.
The disease is both an acute, fast-advancing form and in a subacute form, the symptom's somewhat longer time to develop. Symptoms of the disease may be poor appetite, weight loss, malaise, chills, nausea and vomiting and night sweats.
In the Western world, the incidence of infective endocarditis from 1.7 to 6.2 per 100,000 patients per annum, ie a rare condition. The incidence is 10 times as high among drug users (IDUs) as in the general population. In patients with the heart valve prosthesis, the incidence is even higher.
Living with infective endocarditis
People belonging within a risk group for endocarditis (because of congenital heart disease, acquired valve disease, valvular prostheses or previously undergone endocarditis) will in some cases have prophylactic treatment with antibiotics before surgery, which may cause it comes bacteria from the blood (bacteremia) . Such interventions are primarily dental treatments and procedures in the oral cavity and pharynx.
How is the condition over time?
Infective endocarditis is a fatal condition without treatment. With treatment survives 70-80% of patients.
Complications
The infection can be difficult to deal with.
Bacterial blood clots can break loose from the flaps and carried by the bloodstream to the lungs or other parts from the body, where they can get stuck in blood vessels and cause damage.
The affected valves can crack, allowing the heart has major problems with its pumping work.
There may be blisters on the heart wall that can rupture.
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