Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Noninvasive Assessment of Cardiac Abnormalities in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis by Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging in the Mouse
12:24

Noninvasive Assessment of Cardiac Abnormalities in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis by Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging in the Mouse

Published on: June 20, 2014

10.0K

Myocarditis in Children: Impact of Early Presentation on Disease Outcomes at a Single Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia

Waleed H Albuali1, Mohammad H Al-Qahtani1, Abdullah A Yousef1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.

International Journal of General Medicine
|June 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Early diagnosis of acute myocarditis in children significantly improves survival rates and reduces intensive care unit stays. Prompt medical attention for pediatric myocarditis is crucial for better patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, presents diagnostic challenges in children due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions.
  • Delayed diagnosis of acute myocarditis can lead to severe complications and increased mortality in pediatric patients.
  • Emergency pediatricians face difficulties in suspecting myocarditis early, potentially leading to delayed treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of early presentation and diagnosis on the outcomes of acute myocarditis in children.
  • To analyze the association between the timing of hospital arrival and patient prognosis in pediatric acute myocarditis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 80 pediatric patients diagnosed with acute myocarditis (2015-2019).
  • Inclusion criteria: patients aged two weeks to 14 years admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
  • Data collected included clinical and laboratory investigations, presentation timing, and in-hospital outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 42.5% of pediatric patients experienced delayed hospital presentation for acute myocarditis.
  • Delayed presentation was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (38.2% vs 19.6%) and increased PICU length of stay.
  • Shock and multisystem organ failure were more frequent in patients with delayed presentation; mechanical ventilation rates showed a marginal increase (p=0.068).

Conclusions:

  • Earlier presentation and diagnosis of acute myocarditis in children are linked to improved in-hospital survival.
  • Prompt medical attention can reduce the need for mechanical ventilation and shorten PICU stays.
  • Emphasizing early recognition of pediatric myocarditis is vital for optimizing patient outcomes and reducing mortality.
Abstract

Keywords:
acute myocarditisearly presentationemergency pediatric careprognosis

More Related Videos

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts07:50

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts

Published on: September 20, 2018

16.0K
Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling08:25

Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling

Published on: April 7, 2015

9.2K

Related Concept Videos

Myocarditis III: Medical Management01:14

Myocarditis III: Medical Management

Myocarditis: Comprehensive Medical ManagementMyocarditis, the heart muscle inflammation, requires a comprehensive medical management strategy that addresses the underlying cause, provides supportive care, manages symptoms, and reduces cardiac workload.Infections and Autoimmune CausesAdminister appropriate antimicrobial therapy when an infectious agent causes myocarditis. For instance, penicillin treats infections caused by Group A Streptococcus. In cases where autoimmune processes are...
15
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The symptoms vary widely, encompassing asymptomatic presentations to severe, acute manifestations.Clinical PresentationAsymptomatic cases: In some instances, myocarditis may be asymptomatic, with the infection resolving without intervention. These cases often go undetected unless discovered incidentally through diagnostic imaging or tests conducted for other reasons.General Early Symptoms: Early symptoms of myocarditis are non-specific and can...
20
Myocarditis IV: Nursing Management01:22

Myocarditis IV: Nursing Management

Myocarditis is an inflammatory condition of the myocardium requiring meticulous nursing management for optimal patient outcomes. Effective management begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's medical history, paying close attention to past infections, autoimmune disorders, travel history, and exposure to toxins or drugs. Recent viral infections and systemic diseases are particularly relevant due to their potential role in triggering myocarditis.Physical Examination and MonitoringThe...
24
Myocarditis I: Introduction01:21

Myocarditis I: Introduction

Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, which is the muscular layer of the heart.EtiologyMyocarditis has a diverse etiology, including a wide range of infectious and non-infectious causes:Infectious CausesViral: Common viruses include Coxsackie A and B, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, enteroviruses, and influenza A.Bacterial: Examples include infections caused by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Mycoplasma species.Rickettsial: Infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in...
28
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
52
Endocarditis III: Medical Management01:18

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...
17