{"id":5880,"date":"2019-04-22T04:20:02","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T04:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5880"},"modified":"2021-03-31T20:33:59","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T20:33:59","slug":"15-known-symptoms-of-endocarditis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-known-symptoms-of-endocarditis\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Known Symptoms of Endocarditis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Endocarditis describes a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The endocardium is a sensitive set of tissues, and damage to the lining may result in severe cardiovascular complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the affected patient fail to receive the necessary treatment for the condition, they run the risk of damage or failure of the heart valves, resulting in instant death through congestive heart failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases of endocarditis, doctors treat the condition using antibiotics. However, in severe cases, your physician may opt for surgery to repair the damage to the endocardial lining. Since there are many reasons for the development of endocarditis, your doctor may have trouble identifying the cause of the condition. However, it usually occurs due to some form of heart dysfunction, such as damaged or artificial heart valves, or other cardiovascular defects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight symptoms of endocarditis you should know.
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1. Influenza-like Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are experiencing the onset of endocarditis <\/a>may not initially realize the severity of their situation from the symptoms they display. It\u2019s easy to confuse the early stages of the condition with influenza infection. The patient starts to develop a fever, as the bacteria spread at the infection site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brain recognizes the infection and signals the immune system to produce antibodies to attack the bacteria while T-cells convert to white blood cells to destroy the pathogen. At the same time, the hypothalamus signals for the creation of pyrogens, enzymes that increase the body\u2019s setpoint temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the pyrogens attach to nerves, they change the setpoint temperature, producing symptoms of chills as the body lags behind the new setpoint. Should the fever get high enough, the patient will slip in and out of delirium as the brain struggles to cope. The fever may not break until the body starts to feel it’s winning the battle against the infection.
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2. Changes to Heart Rhythm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Endocarditis is a bacterial infection affecting the endocardium lining. This lining is tremendously sensitive to any pathogen<\/a>. As the bacteria spread in the cardiovascular system through the infected bloodstream, the patient may start to notice they develop a heart murmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mummer occurs due to the noise of blood rushing through the heart valves. In the case of endocarditis, this murmur may be a signal of heart damage, and the patient should take this as a severe warning sign that something\u2019s going wrong with their cardiovascular system. Seek treatment right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage of the condition, the patient, a caregiver, or a family member may realize that they are not dealing with a case of the flu, and should take the patient to the emergency room for immediate assessment of their condition. Doctors at the clinic will ask the patient a set of questions to determine when the symptoms started. The extent of the symptoms determines their decision to act.
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3. Fatigue, Aching Joints, and Muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the infection <\/a>starts to take hold of the cardiovascular system, the patient may notice they begin to experience feelings of fatigue. They may become tired suddenly, and feel the need to lie down. The patient may also start to experience aching in their muscles and joints as well \u2013 this is a sign that the body is fighting against the bacteria causing the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The body is now the battleground for the patient\u2019s life as the immune system throws everything it has against the invading bacteria. As the body ramps up the production of white blood cells and antibodies, they penetrate tissues, causing symptoms of aching in the muscles and joints. The additional strain placed on metabolism drains your energy as your brain diverts energy to those areas of the body that are fighting the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors can treat these symptoms with anti-inflammatories and painkillers, providing the patient with some relief.
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4. Night Sweats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some patients dealing with endocarditis infection may experience night sweats. The patient may sweat while they sleep, soaking the bedsheets, without ever waking up during the course of the night. Medical science is still at a loss to explain the exact cause of these night sweats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some experts believe that they may have something to do with the nocturnal fever that\u2019s caused by transient bacteremia. Treating this bacterium requires the same antibiotic<\/a> medications that the doctors use to address the endocarditis infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients may start to recover 24-hours after the administration of antibiotic treatment. In some cases, the patient may experience such severe depletion, that they need to take the medication along with an IV bag to replace lost body fluids and minerals from the excessive sweating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s vital that the patient remains hydrated, and maintains their mineral and electrolyte balance \u2013 failure to retain enough fluids during the infection may lead to seizures and death.
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5. Shortness of Breath and Chest Pain when Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria that are causing endocarditis infection spread through the bloodstream<\/a>, infecting multiple organs, including the lungs. The bacteria may start to cause shortness of breath, and the patient may begin to struggle with walking to the car to go to the emergency room or navigating a flight of stairs at the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may also start to experience chest pain when breathing, as the infection begins to infest the alveoli and bronchial tubes in the lungs. Chest pain symptoms may also occur due to significant amounts of inflammation in the endocardial lining in the heart, causing chest pain when breathing as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors may place the patient on oxygen while they start emergency treatment with antibiotics, and assess the patient’s state. Chest pain is always a serious concern for any doctor, and the physician may want to take an MRI of your chest or an X-ray to look at the extent of the infection.
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6. Swelling in the Feet and Legs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients experiencing endocarditis may notice that their lower legs and feet begin to swell up. This symptom occurs due to an increase in blood pressure caused by the bacterial infection, and the burden it places on other organs, like the kidneys. The kidneys control the retention of sodium in the body, and when under stress, they may not flush out the sodium in the urine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water binds to sodium in the body, producing symptoms of swelling, especially in the lower limbs where circulation is at its weakest. In some cases, the patient may notice a slight throbbing sensation in their ankles and feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors may treat this symptom with the use of medical compression socks to improve circulation and drive the blood from the feet back toward the heart. Depending on the patients\u2019 blood pressure, they may use diuretics to flush out excess water and sodium, reducing the strain on the heart.
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7. Malaise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients experiencing endocarditis infection that live by themselves may develop a sense of dread when they realize that something wrong with their cardiovascular system When we sprain our ankle or get the flu, our body understands what\u2019s wrong with it because we\u2019ve experienced the situation before and typically had a positive medical outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when things start to go wrong with our heart, the subconscious mind starts thinking about how severe cardiovascular conditions are, and launches the brain into a downward spiral of anxiety. Cardiovascular problems are dangerous, and the affected patient may feel a grave threat to their life \u2013 resulting in fear and panic that does nothing to improve the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaise <\/a>typically lifts after the patient receives medical diagnosis and treatment for their condition. When the brain and subconscious mind realize that they are going to make it through this physical problem, they no longer dread the outcome, but rather accept the experience instead.
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8. Uncommon Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered the common symptoms of endocarditis infection, it\u2019s time to look at the lesser-known symptoms of this condition. The bacteria responsible for the cause of the disease may also affect the kidneys <\/a>due to an increase in blood pressure. As a result, the patient may start to notice that their urine turns darker, which is a signal that blood is entering the urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spleen works hard during periods of bacterial infection to recycle blood cells and produce white blood cells. As a result, the patient may experience tenderness in their left side below the ribcage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petechiae may appear as red or purple spots under the skin, inside the mouth, or in the whites of your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may also develop red lesions on their palms and soles of their feet known as \u201cJaneway lesions,\u201d and they may even notice Osler’s nodes, which are tender, red spots that lay under the skin of your toes and fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Petechiae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with endocarditis can sometimes develop a strange rash on the eyelids or the palms of their hands. “Petechiae” is a symptom of an underlying disease, but many patients often think of it as a stand-alone condition that might fade away in a few days if they wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spots appear as purple, brown, or red dots, and they are a sign of bleeding under the skin. The dots take a smooth appearance, and unlike a rash, they do not change or lose color when you press down on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with endocarditis often develop Petechiae on the palms of their hands, and the coloring of the dots typically depends on the age of the person. Younger people will have reddish <\/a>dots, while seniors may experience purple or brown dots appearing on the surface of the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the dots fade after the infection clears and the patient experiences no lasting damage to the skin.
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10. Osler’s Nodes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with endocarditis may start to develop all sorts of complications with their condition. The endocardial lining is a critical part of the cardiovascular system,<\/a> and when it experiences an infection, plenty of things go wrong in other regions of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endocarditis infection can cause the development of an autoimmune disorder known as, “Osler’s nodes,” discovered after the Canadian Physician Sir William Osler (1849-1919). Osler’s nodes a tiny transient, tender nodes about the size of a split pea. The nodes occur in the soles of the feet and the pads of the toes and fingers, as well as the palms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors use Osler’s nodes in their diagnosis of bacterial infection of the cardiovascular system. This autoimmune disorder occurs due to the body increases the production of reactive oxygen species, as well as inflammatory cytokines, and cytolytic enzymes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nodes retreat after the patient receives treatment with antibiotics to cure the endocarditis infection.
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11.    Janeway Lesions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Janeway lesions <\/a>are another rare complication of endocarditis infection. When bacteria enter the cardiovascular system, the immune system can produce strange responses. We’ve already discussed the occurrence of Osler’s nodes, and Janeway lesions are another similar autoimmune disorder produced by bacterial endocarditis infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janeway lesions appear as flat, painless red or purple spots on the palms and soles. These lesions are similar to Petechiae but larger. Once again Janeway lesions are a symptom of an underlying disease, and doctors will run blood tests on the patient to determine the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many people do not seek medical attention when the lesions appear, because they do not present any symptoms of discomfort, itching or pain. Once the patient receives treatment for the endocarditis infection, the spots will gradually start to fade away as the skin regenerates. Doctors will give the patient antibiotics to kill off the invading bacteria and return the endocardial lining to health.
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12.    Pain in the Spleen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with endocarditis might notice that they feel tenderness <\/a>in the bottom right-hand side of the ribcage. This region of the body is home to the spleen, an infection-fighting organ that produces red blood cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spleen also holds a full load of blood that’s vital for fighting off infections., when the bacteria that causes endocarditis enters the bloodstream, the brain signals the spleen to create more red blood cells to fight off the infection. As a result, the organ starts to feel sore to the touch as it starts to work in overdrive to battle the bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spleen also produces antibodies as well. Antibodies enter tissues to kill bacteria, resulting in the development of symptoms of sore muscles and joints. Creating these antibodies also requires plenty of energy, and the spleen may start to develop inflammation due to the body’s demand for red blood cells and antibodies.
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13.    Blood in Urine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the known symptoms of endocarditis infection is blood in the urine<\/a>. The patient may notice that their urine turns from yellow to dark yellow, and then to orange or light brown. This change occurs due to issues with proteins leaking from the kidneys due to the bacterial infection spreading to the renal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the advanced stages of the condition, patients may find that their urine turns dark brown, and they start to produce less volume in each urination. Much like Osler’s nodes and Janeway lesions, blood in the urine is often a symptom of an underlying health problem. Doctors may need to run a battery of blood tests to determine the cause of the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These tests take a few days to show results, but when the doctor diagnosis endocarditis, they usually treat the patient immediately with antibiotics to avoid any further complications arising. In most cases, the symptoms of bloody urine subside after starting treatment.
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14.    Unexplained Weight Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with endocarditis infection may notice unexplained weight loss after their ordeal. When the body deals with an invading pathogen, it requires plenty of energy<\/a>, which it derives from adipose fat stores in the body for fuel. Since the patient most likely does not feel like eating much during their infection, the body turns fat into fuel through a process called “ketosis.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with endocarditis may also experience dehydration and the loss of body fluids. It’s important to note that almost 65-percent of the body consists of water, and when we are dehydrated, we can lose a significant volume of body fluids, resulting in a loss of body weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not uncommon for some patients to lose up to 15-pounds of body weight during their infection. After dealing with the disease, the patient will typically return to their old body weight in a few days as the water returns to their body.
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