Endocarditis is the inflammation of the heart valve. It is an infection of the endocardium, which is the inner lining of the heart chamber; it also involves the heart valves. Endocarditis occurs when fungi, bacteria or other germs from other parts of body, spread through blood streams and get attached to the infected area of the heart. If endocarditis is not treated, it can damage the heart valves and it is also life-threatening. Treatment for endocarditis is done by consuming antibiotics and in some cases treatment leads to surgery. Endocarditis can be developed by many ways. So it becomes hard to know about exact reason behind endocarditis. The highest risky conditions are damaged heart valves, or may be artificial heart valves or may be some other defects in the heart.
Symptoms of endocarditis can be seen slowly or suddenly depend on the heart condition whether any infection caused by germs, fungi or bacteria, or any other heart problem that is making heart unfit internally. These symptoms vary from person to person.
Common symptoms are listed below:
- Flu like fever or chills
- Fatigue
- Joints pains
- Muscle ache
- Sweating during sleep
- Swelling of feet, legs
- Abdomen swelling
- Breathe shortness
- A different heart sounds of blood rushing, like a murmur sound.
Uncommon symptoms are listed below:
- Sudden weight loss
- Blood in urine, which is discovered during urine test.
- Tenderness in the left side of the body below rib cage in spleen.
- Red spots on the feet sole or on the palm.
- Red spots under the fingers or toes.
- Red spot on the white area in the eye or inside the mouth.
Prevention
There are several ways to prevent endocarditis
- Antibiotics
- Consult your doctor for test if you see any above mention symptoms occurring.
- Have regular dental checkup, as bleeding gums may allow entry of germs into blood stream.
- Avoid such things like piercing or tattoos, which can lead to skin infection.
What Antibiotics Are Used To Treat Endocarditis?
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are a kind of antimicrobial drug, used to fight against bacteria causing infection or damage to any part of the body. Antibiotics may kill harmful bacteria or redeem the reproduction of the harmful bacteria
Preventive Antibiotics For Endocarditis: For some people with heart damage, heart problem or infected heart valves may get infected by some medical or dental activities. So they are given some antibiotics to intake before performing such activities, like brushing of teeth, as which leads to bleeding gums and this bleeding gum may give way to bloodstreams to be filled with germs through mouth. So some people who are at great risk are strictly advised to consume antibiotics.
Even in the past, doctor used to give antibiotics to patients before dental or surgical activities. Such activities like intestinal or urinary tracts, whether there is risk of endocarditis or not. But now this is not so important now-a-days as doctors have learned that endocarditis is more likely to occur by exposure of germs from some very common dental exam or surgery.
It is also advised to tell your doctor about any effect on your body before going through any dental or surgical activities. Only then doctor would decide whether to give a dosage of antibiotics to the patient or not.
It is very important for everyone to take great care during brushing and flossing, as doctor might find it risky that some infection may be caused by oral hygiene through mouth and may increase the risk of entering the germs in blood streams. Moreover, it is good to maintain good oral health.
Name Of Some Antibiotics Available In Market
- Amoxicllin and Amoxil with drug class Aminopenicillins
- Cephalexin and Keflex with drug class first generation cephalosporins
- Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, Zithromax, Erythrocin, Biaxin and erythromycin with drug class macrolides
- Clindamycin and Cleocin with drug class lincomycin derivatives
- Ceftriaxone with drug class third generation cephalosporins.
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