Endocarditis - children
Valve infection - children; Staphylococcus aureus - endocarditis - children; Enterococcus - endocarditis- children; Streptococcus viridians - endocarditis - children; Candida - endocarditis - children; Bacterial endocarditis - children; Infective endocarditis - children; Congenital heart disease - endocarditis - childrenThe inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves is called the endocardium. Endocarditis occurs when this tissue becomes swollen or inflamed, most often due to infection of one of the heart valves.
Causes
Endocarditis occurs when germs enter the bloodstream and then travel to the heart.
- Bacterial infection is the most common cause
- Fungal infections are much more rare
- In some cases, no germs can be found after testing
Endocarditis can involve the heart muscle, heart valves, or lining of the heart. Children with endocarditis may have an underlying condition such as:
- Birth defect of the heart
Birth defect of the heart
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Damaged or abnormal heart valve
- New heart valve after surgery
The risk is higher in children who have a history of heart surgery, which can leave rough areas in the lining of the heart chambers.
This makes it easier for bacteria to stick to the lining.
Germs may enter the bloodstream:
- By way of a central venous access line that is in place
Central venous access line
You have a central line. This is a long tube (catheter) that goes into a vein in your chest, arm, or groin and ends in your heart or in a large vein...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - During dental surgery
- During other surgeries or minor procedures to the airways and lungs, urinary tract, infected skin, or bones and muscles
- Migration of bacteria from the bowel, mouth, or throat
Symptoms
Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly or suddenly.
Fever, chills, and sweating are frequent symptoms. These sometimes can:
Fever
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleChills
Chills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSweating
Sweating is the release of liquid from the body's sweat glands. This liquid contains salt. This process is also called perspiration. Sweating helps...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article- Be present for days before any other symptoms appear
- Come and go, or be more noticeable at nighttime
Other symptoms may include:
- Tiredness
Tiredness
Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Weakness
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
Muscle pain
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascias are th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Trouble breathing
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
Neurological problems, such as seizures and disturbed mental status
Seizures
A seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSigns of endocarditis can also include:
- Small bleeding areas under the nails (splinter hemorrhages)
Splinter hemorrhages
Splinter hemorrhages are small areas of bleeding (hemorrhage) under the fingernails or toenails.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Red, painless skin spots on the palms and soles (Janeway lesions)
- Red, painful nodules in the pads of the fingers and toes (Osler nodes)
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Swelling of feet, legs, abdomen
Exams and Tests
Your child's health care provider may perform transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to check for endocarditis in children age 10 years or younger. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may also be used, particularly in older children.
Transthoracic echocardiography
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOther tests may include:
- Blood culture to help identify the bacteria or fungus that is causing the infection
Blood culture
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Complete blood count (CBC)
Complete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is commonly called a "sed rate. "It is a test that indirectly measures the level of certain protei...
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Treatment
Treatment for endocarditis depends upon the:
- Cause of the infection
- Child's age
- Severity of the symptoms
Your child will need to be in the hospital to receive antibiotics through a vein (IV). Blood cultures and tests will help the provider choose the best antibiotic.
Your child will need long-term antibiotic therapy.
- Your child will need this therapy for 4 to 8 weeks to fully kill all the bacteria from the heart chambers and valves.
- Antibiotic treatments started in the hospital will need to be continued at home once your child is stable.
Surgery to replace an infected heart valve may be needed when:
- Antibiotics don't work to treat the infection
- The infection is breaking off in little pieces, resulting in strokes
- Your child develops heart failure as a result of damaged heart valves
- The heart valve is badly damaged
Outlook (Prognosis)
Getting treatment for endocarditis right away improves the chances of clearing the infection and preventing complications.
Possible Complications
The possible complications of endocarditis in children are:
- Damage to the heart and heart valves
- Abscess in the heart muscle
- Infective clot in the coronary arteries
- Stroke, caused by small clots or pieces of the infection breaking off and traveling to the brain
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Spread of the infection to other parts of the body, such as the lungs
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your child's provider if you notice the following symptoms during or after treatment:
- Blood in urine
- Chest pain
Chest pain
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Fatigue
- Fever
- Numbness
Numbness
Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Weakness
- Weight loss without a change in diet
Weight loss
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
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Prevention
The American Heart Association recommends preventive antibiotics for children at risk for endocarditis, such as those with:
- Certain corrected or uncorrected birth defects of the heart
- Heart transplant and valve problems
- Man-made (prosthetic) heart valves
- A past history of endocarditis
These children should receive antibiotics when they have:
- Dental procedures that are likely to cause bleeding
- Procedures involving the breathing tract, the urinary tract, or the digestive tract
- Procedures on skin infections and soft tissue infections
References
Baltimore RS, Gewitz M, Baddour LM, et al; American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Infective endocarditis in childhood: 2015 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;132(15):1487-1515. PMID: 26373317 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26373317.
Kaplan SL, Vallejo JG. Infective endocarditis. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.
Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Infective endocarditis. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuch AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 111.
Mick NW. Pediatric fever. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 161.
Heart valves - superior view - illustration
There are four valves located in the heart. Each valve either consists of two or three folds of thin tissue. When closed, the valve prevents blood from flowing backwards to its previous location. When open the valve allows blood to flow freely. Valve problems can occur because of congenital abnormalities, infection, or other causes.
Heart valves - superior view
illustration
Culture-negative endocarditis - illustration
Endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of the valves in the heart. When the infection cannot be cultured and linked to any causative organism from the bloodstream, it is referred to as culture-negative endocarditis.
Culture-negative endocarditis
illustration
Infective endocarditis - illustration
Infectious endocarditis involves the heart valves and is most commonly found in people who have underlying heart disease. Sources of the infection may be transient bacteremia, which is common during dental, upper respiratory, urologic, and lower gastrointestinal diagnostic and surgical procedures. The infection can cause growths on the heart valves, the lining of the heart, or the lining of the blood vessels. These growths may be dislodged and send clots to the brain, lungs, kidneys, or spleen.
Infective endocarditis
illustration
Heart valves - superior view - illustration
There are four valves located in the heart. Each valve either consists of two or three folds of thin tissue. When closed, the valve prevents blood from flowing backwards to its previous location. When open the valve allows blood to flow freely. Valve problems can occur because of congenital abnormalities, infection, or other causes.
Heart valves - superior view
illustration
Culture-negative endocarditis - illustration
Endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of the valves in the heart. When the infection cannot be cultured and linked to any causative organism from the bloodstream, it is referred to as culture-negative endocarditis.
Culture-negative endocarditis
illustration
Infective endocarditis - illustration
Infectious endocarditis involves the heart valves and is most commonly found in people who have underlying heart disease. Sources of the infection may be transient bacteremia, which is common during dental, upper respiratory, urologic, and lower gastrointestinal diagnostic and surgical procedures. The infection can cause growths on the heart valves, the lining of the heart, or the lining of the blood vessels. These growths may be dislodged and send clots to the brain, lungs, kidneys, or spleen.
Infective endocarditis
illustration
Review Date: 5/27/2024
Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.