Endocarditis

Endocarditis is a rare but serious condition where the inner lining of the heart becomes inflamed. This is usually as a result of a bacterial infection, but can, less commonly, be caused by a fungal infection.

Symptoms of endocarditis include flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature (fever) and chills, fatigue and a shortness of breath.

Endocarditis is a potentially serious condition because the inflammation (swelling) that occurs inside the heart can interrupt the normal blood flow through the heart valves. This can trigger a range of complications such as:

• heart failure
• stroke
• multiple organ damage

How common is endocarditis?

Endocarditis is a rare condition. You are more likely to develop endocarditis in the following cases.

• If you have a prosthetic (artificial) heart valve. Prosthetic heart valves are increasingly being used to treat a range of heart conditions, such as stenosis (where one of the valves of the heart narrows).
• If you have congenital heart disease (CHD). Congenital heart disease is when a person is born with heart defects.
• If you have previously experienced damaged to the valves of your heart, due to infection or heart disease.
• If you are an intravenous (injecting) drug user. People who regularly inject themselves with heroin are three times more likely to develop endocarditis than the population at large.

Endocarditis is more common in older people, with half of all cases occurring in people who are over 50. However, cases of endocarditis have been recorded in children, particularly those who are born with congenital heart disease. Twice as many men are affected by endocarditis as women.

Endocarditis is regarded as a medical emergency and usually requires admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Intravenous antibiotics are usually used to treat the underlying infection. Just under half of all people with endocarditis will require surgery to repair the damage to their heart.

Outlook

Unfortunately, the outlook for endocarditis is not favourable. This is because the condition is life-threatening and is challenging to treat. An estimated one in five people with endocarditis will die as a result of complications that arise from the condition.

If you are at significant risk of developing endocarditis, it is important to take basic precautions to limit your exposure to harmful bacteria, for example, by brushing your teeth regularly. Some cases of endocarditis are triggered by poor dental hygiene after an infection in the mouth spreads to the heart via the blood. See the section on preventing endocarditis for more information.

Glossary

Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's response to infection, irritation or injury. It causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.

Heart

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood around the body.

Heart valves

Heart valves are four sets of flaps that control the direction that blood pumps around the heart.

Bacteria

Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and others are good for you.

Kidneys

Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdomen. They remove waste and extra fluid from the blood and pass them out of the body as urine.

Lungs

Lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that control breathing. They remove carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen.

Brain

The brain controls thought, memory and emotion. It sends messages to the body controlling movement, speech and senses.

Tissue

Body tissue is made up of groups of cells that perform a specific job, such as protecting the body against infection, producing movement or storing fat.