infection

Infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is an of the inner surface of the heart (endocardium), usually the valves. Signs and symptoms may include fever, small areas of bleeding into the skin, heart murmur, feeling tired, and low red blood cell count. may include backward blood flow in the heart, heart failure – the heart struggling to pump a sufficient amount of blood to meet the body's needs, abnormal electrical conduction in the heart, , and kidney failure.

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Symptoms — what it feels like

·Fever, small areas of bleeding into the skin, heart murmur, , low red blood cells

Causes — why it happens

· , infection

How it's found

·Based on symptoms, blood cultures,

Treatment

·, heart

Complications

·Valvular insufficiency, heart failure, , kidney failure Enlarged and painful , kidney damage, damage to the such as fingers and toes.

Outlook

·25% risk of death

More in Heart

Coronary artery disease Heart failure Arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation)Cardiomyopathy Heart valve disease Rheumatic heart disease Congenital heart defect Heart attack Cardiac arrest Myocarditis Aortic stenosis Long QT syndrome

See all of Heart →

Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.