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Bacterial pericarditis in infancy and childhood
C Dupuis1, P Gronnier, J Kachaner
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiologic Hospital, Lille, France.
Insights
Bacterial pericarditis in children is treatable with antibiotics and drainage, leading to full recovery. Early diagnosis using echocardiography is key, preventing long-term complications like constrictive pericarditis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Bacterial pericarditis is a serious condition in children, often associated with septicemia.
- Symptoms include precordial pain, muffled heart sounds, friction rub, and cardiomegaly.
- Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on a cooperative study of bacterial pericarditis in children.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods and treatment outcomes.
- To assess long-term sequelae.
Main Methods:
- Cooperative study involving 43 pediatric cases of bacterial pericarditis.
- Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and signs.
- Echocardiography utilized for early diagnosis.
- Treatment included appropriate antibiotic therapy and early pericardial drainage.
Main Results:
- Bacterial pericarditis was suspected in children with septicemia presenting with pericardial symptoms.
- Echocardiography facilitated early diagnosis.
- Combined medical and surgical treatment resulted in recovery for 42 out of 43 cases.
- No cases of constrictive pericarditis were observed during long-term follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial pericarditis in children can be successfully treated with a combination of antibiotics and early pericardial drainage.
- Prompt diagnosis, aided by echocardiography, is essential.
- This approach leads to complete recovery and prevents long-term complications.
Abstract:
The authors report on a cooperative study of 43 cases of bacterial pericarditis observed in children. This disorder was suspected in patients with septicemia who developed symptoms and signs of pericarditis (precordial pain, muffled heart sounds, pericardial friction rub, cardiomegaly). Early diagnosis of this condition is now facilitated by echocardiography. A combination of medical and surgical treatments (appropriate antibiotic therapy after culture and sensitivity tests and early pericardial drainage) led to complete recovery in almost all of the cases (42 of 43). After long-term follow-up, no cases of constrictive pericarditis were observed.