Overview

• Inflammation of the myocardium in the absence of the predominant acute or chronic ischaemia characteristic of coronary artery disease
• Cause of ∼10% of sudden deaths in young adults
• M=F, average age ∼40 yrs old

Aetiology:

• Idiopathic = most common
• Viral → coxsackie B, parvovirus, influenza A+B, adenovirus
• Bacterial → mycobacterial, streptococcal
• Fungal
• Parasitic
• Noninfectious → connective tissue diseases (SLE, sarcoidosis), toxic myocarditis (toxins, medication, alcohol, cocaine), autoimmune

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

Usually young patient with acute history (recent flu like illness)

• Preceeding Viral Syndrome → fever, myalgia, URTI symptoms around 2-3 weeks before initial presentation
• Chest Pain → indicates perimyocarditis
• Cardiac Arrhythmias → palpitations