[Constrictive pericarditis in early infancy (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Neonatal and infant sepsis can lead to severe complications, including cardiac involvement.
• Purulent pericarditis is a rare but life-threatening condition in infants, often associated with high mortality.
• Constrictive pericarditis typically develops over a longer period, making rapid onset in infants highly unusual.

Observation:

• An 8-week-old infant presented with staphylococcal sepsis and subsequent purulent pericarditis.
• The infant rapidly developed classic symptoms of constrictive pericarditis within a 12-day timeframe.
• This rapid progression is exceptionally rare, with only one similar case reported in an 8-month-old infant.

Findings:

• The case highlights the potential for rapid development of constrictive pericarditis following bacterial infection in neonates.
• Despite prompt surgical treatment (anterior pericardectomy), the infant's outcome was fatal, underscoring the severity of the condition.
• The rapid clinical course challenges typical timelines for constrictive pericarditis development.

Implications:

• Early recognition and aggressive management of purulent pericarditis in infants are crucial, though outcomes remain challenging.
• This case underscores the need for heightened awareness of rapid-onset constrictive pericarditis in pediatric infectious disease scenarios.
• Further research into the pathophysiology of rapid constrictive pericarditis in infants may inform future treatment strategies.