Pericarditis

Definition:

A disorder caused by inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Pericarditis can be caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral infections such as polio, influenza, rubella, rheumatic fever and tuberculosis. The most common identifiable causes in children are adenovirus and cocksackie viruses.

It may be a result of injury or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or heart. It may be caused by systemic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, leukemia, HIV infections or AIDS or AIDS related disorders, autoimmune disorders, heart attack, myocarditis, and treatments such as radiation therapy to the chest and use of medications that suppress the immune system.

Pain occurs as a result of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart. Fluid may accumulate in the pericardial sac.

Classifications of pericarditis include bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent or infectious pericarditis), constrictive pericarditis, and post-MI pericarditis. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a disorder that is very similar to pericarditis, but in which the heart muscle is also damaged and functions poorly.

Pericarditis most often affects men ages 20 to 50, usually following respiratory infections. It occurs in approximately 1 out of 1,000 people.