The step to understand an answer is to first comprehend the interrogation . So to serve whether pericarditis is life threatening or not , we should first understand what pericarditis is .
Pericarditis is the inflaming of the pericardium , the two layers of a sac - like tissue fence the heart . The function of pericardium is to keep the marrow in position when we are in movement such as walk or running . Generally , a small amount of fluid is unremarkably present in between the two layers of pericardium to prevent friction . An fervor commonly lead in a build - up of this fluid go to poor map of the heart .
Types of Pericarditis
Pericarditis can be broadly classified into two types :
Is Pericarditis Life Threatening?
The interrogative sentence is whether pericarditis is biography threatening or not . get immediate medical charge , emergency service and punctual follow up , pericarditis is just another disease that can be cured with right medical intervention when done immediately , which is true for all disease . Prevention is better than heal and quick handling will prevent the further complications . It can be lifetime threatening if no proper care is taken .
Pericarditis mostly presents as a sharp and dig pain that might mimic aheart onslaught . It might on occasions be dull pain too . The pain begins in the middle of the bureau and radiate to the upper back or neck . The breast pain sometimes aggravate on lying down , cough and swallowing . It is often relieved on sitting up . The infliction might also cause painful breathing . Other symptoms include fever , chills ( when it is caused due to infection),shortness of breathand difficulty in swallowing . In chronic cases weakness , fatigue andmalaisemay be the presentation too . Mostly men are at an increased risk of exposure of developing pericarditis .
What are the Causes of Pericarditis?
The accurate cause of pericarditis is unknown , so mostly it is idiopathic . The other common drive let in contagion such as viral , bacterial ( TB),HIV / AIDSor fungal . It might also present in instigative diseases such asrheumatoid arthritis , SLE , ancylose spondylitis , scleroderma , inflammatory bowel disease , heart diseases such as Dressler ’s syndrome , heart onset causing irritation and inflammation of the pericardial lining , trauma to the chest , kidney unsuccessful person , tumors admit leukemia , radiation therapy to the chest of drawers and also due to certain medication such as procainamide , hydralazine , phenytoin , Nydrazid and immunosuppressant drug .
How is Pericarditis Diagnosed?
Pericarditis is ordinarily confirmed with past medical history and strong-arm exam . The history of hurting and the character would indicate towards pericarditis . A history of previous chest transmission is important , especially if it is perennial . The most common physical finding is a pericardiac frictional wipe . Also it might lay out with signs of fluid in the pericardium , known as pericardial effusion or fluid in the lung , screw as pleural effusion . Heart go may also be remote or muffled .
The imaging tests may be done to check the heart and tissue paper layer , which includeX - rayof the bureau , electrocardiogram , echocardiogram , ultrasoundof the heart , radionuclide run down orCT read . Troponin I try will show further heart muscularity damage . Other test may include CBC , blood culture , CRP test , ESR , HIV test , rheumatoid factor and TB tegument test .
What are the Treatment Options?
On most occasions , pericarditis is viral in nature and usually anti - seditious drug orNSAIDsare give , such as isobutylphenyl propionic acid or Naprosyn . A little course of narcotic drugs may be used to assuage severe pain .
The other causes of pericarditis are treated accordingly . If it is due to bacterial contagion antibiotics are used , and antifungals are used for fungal infections . Other medicines that may be used are adrenal cortical steroid for e.g. prednisone , diuretics ( for removing of excess fluid ) , and colchicine to forbid swelling stimulate by inflaming . There are also treatment options that are used in severe case of pericarditis such as pericardiocentesis ( fluent drainage from the sac ) , pericardiotomy ( making a small hole in the pericardium for drainage of infected fluid in the abdominal cavity ) and also pericardiectomy that is performed for recurrent pericarditis ( severing a part of the pericardium ) .
What are the Complications of Severe Pericarditis?
There are also complications of untreated pericarditis such as :
Cardiac Tamponade : Cardiac tamponade is the most dangerous complication which result in the collection of large amount of fluid lead to decrease in rake press and adapted sum function . It is treat with pericardiocentesis and pericardiotomy . It is a aesculapian emergency and the patient may present jar , low blood insistence , difficulty respiration or congestive cardiac failure .
Constrictive Pericarditis : This mostly come due to inveterate / recurrent pericarditis that have pock and thickening of the sac - comparable covering and the affection muscularity . It is treated with pericardiectomy .
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