What is Endocarditis?
• Endocarditis: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart. • Endocarditis: Exudative and proliferative inflammatory alterations of the endocardium, characterized by the presence of vegetations on the surface of the endocardium or in the endocardium itself, and most commonly involving a heart valve, but sometimes affecting the inner lining of the cardiac chambers or the endocardium elsewhere. It may occur as a primary disorder or as a complication of or in association with another disease. (Dorland, 27th ed) Source – Diseases Database • Endocarditis: inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves. Source – WordNet 2.
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart’s valves or inner lining. The condition occurs when germs from the mouth, intestines or skin reach the bloodstream and infect regions of the heart. Fungi has also been recognized as a causative source of the heart infection. Although endocarditis is not common, it does pose serious health risks. Complications include congestive heart failure, blood clots, rapid or irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias, stroke, and damage to the nervous system and brain. Early treatment of endocarditis can result in a positive prognosis, but if left untreated, the infection can cause death. People with pre-existing heart conditions are the most susceptible to developing endocarditis. The infection rarely occurs in people with healthy hearts. Surgeries and dental procedures that cause a significant amount of bleeding pose the biggest risk of endocarditis. Injection drug use and a history of rheumatic fever are some other risk factors in the development of th