[Non-rheumatic carditis. A diagnostic study in a period of 11 years (author's transl)]

23 paediatric cases of non-rheumatic carditis seen in the period between 1965 and 1976 are reviewed. Neonatal carditis is very letal, but the prognosis improves with increasing age. Males and females are equally affected. There is a rise in frequency since 1971. 9 of the 23 cases ended letally. In further 9 cases congenital heart lesions occurred simultaneously, 3 of which were ventricle septal defects. The most important diagnostic feature is the cardiac enlargement (94% of our cases). Other important signs and symptoms are dyspnoea at rest tachycardia and fever. The ECG changes (89%) are non-specific. Very often, it is not possible to classify the disease into endo-, myo- or pericarditis; the term "carditis" is, therefore, preferred. Virological and bacteriological findings were found in only 35% of the cases.