Endocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal type of heart infection.
It's specifically an infection of the inner lining of the heart (the endocardium), most commonly caused by bacteria entering the blood and travelling to the heart.
The heart is well protected against infection and bacteria usually pass by without causing any harm. However, if the heart valves are damaged, or if a person has an artificial valve (see below), it's easier for bacteria to take root and bypass your normal immune response to infection.
Read more about the causes of endocarditis.
The initial symptoms of endocarditis are similar to the flu and include:
- a high temperature (fever) of or above 38C (101.4F)
- chills
- loss of appetite
- headache
- joint pain
Left untreated the infection will damage the valves of the heart, disrupting the normal flow of blood through the heart.
This triggers a range of life-threatening complications, such as:
- heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body to properly meet the body’s demands
- stroke – where the supply of blood to the brain becomes disrupted
Read more about the symptoms of endocarditis.
Treating edndocarditis
Endocarditis is treated with a course of antibiotics given via a drip, you will need to be admitted to hospital for this.
Around 1 in 5 people will also need surgery to repair or replace a damaged heart valve or drain away any abscesses that develop (an abscess is a large collection of pus).
Read more about the treatment of endocarditis.
Who is affected
You are more at risk of developing endocarditis if you:
- have a prosthetic (artificial) heart valve – valve replacement surgery is increasingly being used when people experience narrowing of one their heart valves
- have congenital heart disease – congenital heart disease means a person is born with heart defects
- have damaged heart valves – due to infection or heart disease
- inject drugs such as heroin – heroin users are three times more likely to develop endocarditis than the population at large
Even in these higher-risk groups endocarditis remains a rare condition. In England, for example, endocarditis is estimated to affect around 1 in every 3,000 people in any given year.
Endocarditis is more common in older people, with half of all cases developing in people over 50. However, cases of endocarditis have been recorded in children, particularly those who are born with congenital heart disease. Twice as many men are affected as women.
Although it may sound strange, rates of endocarditis are increasing due to advancements in medical care. This is because an increasing number of people are now being treated with valve replacement surgery or surgery to repair congenital heart disease.
Outlook
Endocarditis is a serious illness and even with the highest standard of medical care the risk of dying is high – at around 1 in 5.
