Rheumatic heart disease and Kawasaki disease are responsible for most acquired heart conditions. Rheumatic heart disease is the leading cause of heart failure in developing countries. Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease of children in industrialized countries, mostly found in Japan.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever. This disease can cause long-term damage to the heart muscle or valves, especially repeated and untreated episodes. Early treatment of rheumatic fever can prevent rheumatic heart disease.
Rheumatic fever results from an auto-immune response to group A streptococcus infection in a genetically susceptible host. It appears 3 weeks after the infection occurs. Only a small number of people infected with the bacteria develop rheumatic fever, but the risk increases if the infection is not treated.
Rheumatic fever results from an auto-immune response to group A streptococcus infection in a genetically susceptible host. It appears 3 weeks after the infection occurs. Only a small number of people infected with the bacteria develop rheumatic fever, but the risk increases if the infection is not treated.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease usually, but not always, affects children aged five years and under. It may damage the heart muscle or coronary arteries. The cause is unknown but the disease is most likely caused by an abnormal reaction to a common germ. This disease is not contagious, although it can occur in clusters.
Signs and Symptoms
The main symptom is persistant fever for five days or longer with no obvious explanation. Other symptoms cause inflammation of small blood vessels known as vasculitis and include:
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Diagnosis
There is no test to diagnose Kawasaki disease. A diagnosis is often made by excluding other possible causes of symptoms. Blood tests and an echocardiogram may be required to examine the heart for any changes in the coronary arteries.
There is no test to diagnose Kawasaki disease. A diagnosis is often made by excluding other possible causes of symptoms. Blood tests and an echocardiogram may be required to examine the heart for any changes in the coronary arteries.
Treatment
Most children who have Kawasaki disease and receive proper treatment will make a full recovery. Few children will develop heart problems, including damage to the coronary arteries. If no treatment is given then it causes the coronary arteries to inflame, which supply blood to the heart muscle. This can cause irregularities with blood vessels and disturb the flow of blood.
Most children who have Kawasaki disease and receive proper treatment will make a full recovery. Few children will develop heart problems, including damage to the coronary arteries. If no treatment is given then it causes the coronary arteries to inflame, which supply blood to the heart muscle. This can cause irregularities with blood vessels and disturb the flow of blood.
- IV gammaglobulin (immunoglobulin) - usually stops the fever and other symptoms. Needs to be administered within 10 days of the onset of fever to minimize heart problems.
- Aspirin may be prescribed to prevent problems, but should only be given when advised by a doctor
Infective Endocarditis
Infective endocarditis, also known as bacterial endocarditis is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the blood stream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or blood vessel. This is a major risk for those with congenital heart defects due to the pooling of blood.
Diagnosis
Blood cultures paired with an echocardiogram aid in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.
Blood cultures paired with an echocardiogram aid in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.
Treatment
Antibiotics are the primary treatment of endocarditis, but surgical intervention may be required in patients with persistent fever that is resistant to medical therapy. Surgery is also indicated in the following conditions:
Antibiotics are the primary treatment of endocarditis, but surgical intervention may be required in patients with persistent fever that is resistant to medical therapy. Surgery is also indicated in the following conditions:
- Valve obstruction
- Prosthetic-valve endocarditis caused by streptococcus aureus or resistant organisms
- Aortic or mitral regurgitation not responding to medical therapy
- Paravalvular abscess
- Development of an aneurysm of a sinus of Valsalva
- Fungal endocarditis
- Multiple embolic episodes
- Progressive heart failure secondary to severe valve destruction
- Oscillating vegetation of greater than one centimeter
Cardiomyopathy
There are three main types:
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Signs and Symptoms
These vary. Some people have none in the earlier stages.
Diagnosis
Tests that can be used to diagnose cardiomyopathy include chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, blood tests, and cardiac catheterization. Treatment
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Myocarditis
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. Infections can damage the heart's cells. The normal immune system response is to attack the organism. However, in some children this attack is too aggressive and destroys heart muscle cells as well as the foreign organism.
The heart muscle thickens and swells as a result of this immune response. The damaged heart muscle cells may heal, or may form scar tissue. The ability to pump blood may be impaired if a large part of the heart is affected.
The heart muscle thickens and swells as a result of this immune response. The damaged heart muscle cells may heal, or may form scar tissue. The ability to pump blood may be impaired if a large part of the heart is affected.
Myocarditis can be triggered by autoimmune diseases, medications, and chemicals. In most children myocarditis is triggered by an infection, usually viral. Possible causes can include:
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Signs and Symptoms
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Treatment
Many children recover completely, but some may develop significant heart failure. In these cases, they may develop blood clots that lead to stroke or heart attack, or may develop serious heart arrhythmias, which may be fatal.
Many children recover completely, but some may develop significant heart failure. In these cases, they may develop blood clots that lead to stroke or heart attack, or may develop serious heart arrhythmias, which may be fatal.
- Medication to control blood pressure and body fluids (diuretics)
- IV immunoglobulin or purified antibodies to reduce inflammation
- Bed rest and avoiding strenuous physical activity
References
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Heart_disorders_acquired_children?open
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/basics/definition/con-20022303
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Glandular-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_307108_Article.jsp
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/929066715/335B575D1B734B08PQ/1?accountid=9817
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/158084984 6/39786D77CCDC47CBPQ/7?accountid=9817
Imran, M., Atiq, M., Haq, F., Jalil, F., Hashmi, S., Jumani, M., . . . Irfan, F. (2011). Risk factors predisposing to congenital heart defects. Annals of Pediatric Cardiology, 4(2), 117-121. doi: 10.4103/0974-2069.8464
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2208/
Photo/Video Credits
http://www.wehealny.org/services/CHP_WomenCenter/images/valves.jpg
http://griffinkingillustration.com/images/rheumaticweb.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9FmxwNC5S0
http://ep.bmj.com/content/89/1/ep3/F1.large.jpg
http://health.shorehealth.org/graphics/images/en/2932.jpg
http://www.bmj.com/content/338/bmj.b1514/F2.large.jpg
https://ozmedgirl.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/stongue.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/cadibug/KDDax.jpg
http://blog.timesunion.com/mdtobe/files/2013/01/image.jpg
http://media.thedenverchannel.com/photo/2013/05/02/Kawasaki_symptoms3_1367526446481_409819_ver1.0_320_240.jpg
http://syndromepictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Kawasaki-syndrome-picture.jpg
http://doctorpradeepshenoy.weebly.com/uploads/5/9/4/8/5948298/8010599.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNuijvjGZBE
http://www.rayur.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Bacterial-Endocarditis.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdzUtDnvI74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VnsoIHryDs
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Heart_disorders_acquired_children?open
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/basics/definition/con-20022303
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Glandular-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_307108_Article.jsp
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/929066715/335B575D1B734B08PQ/1?accountid=9817
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/158084984 6/39786D77CCDC47CBPQ/7?accountid=9817
Imran, M., Atiq, M., Haq, F., Jalil, F., Hashmi, S., Jumani, M., . . . Irfan, F. (2011). Risk factors predisposing to congenital heart defects. Annals of Pediatric Cardiology, 4(2), 117-121. doi: 10.4103/0974-2069.8464
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2208/
Photo/Video Credits
http://www.wehealny.org/services/CHP_WomenCenter/images/valves.jpg
http://griffinkingillustration.com/images/rheumaticweb.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9FmxwNC5S0
http://ep.bmj.com/content/89/1/ep3/F1.large.jpg
http://health.shorehealth.org/graphics/images/en/2932.jpg
http://www.bmj.com/content/338/bmj.b1514/F2.large.jpg
https://ozmedgirl.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/stongue.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/cadibug/KDDax.jpg
http://blog.timesunion.com/mdtobe/files/2013/01/image.jpg
http://media.thedenverchannel.com/photo/2013/05/02/Kawasaki_symptoms3_1367526446481_409819_ver1.0_320_240.jpg
http://syndromepictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Kawasaki-syndrome-picture.jpg
http://doctorpradeepshenoy.weebly.com/uploads/5/9/4/8/5948298/8010599.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNuijvjGZBE
http://www.rayur.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Bacterial-Endocarditis.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdzUtDnvI74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VnsoIHryDs