Pericarditis, Infectious

Alternate Name:

Test:

B.culture (+ or -), WCC (H), pericardial biopsy mi-croscopy (AB), cardiac enzymes (N), ECG (AB)

Sign:

Friction rub, gallop.rhythm (constrictive), hepato­megaly, hypotension (constrictive), jugular ve­nous pressure (constrictive), pleural effusion (constrictive), pulsus paradoxus (constrictive), shifting dullness (ascites), fluid thrill (ascites), atri­al fibrillation

Dd:

Trauma, myocardial infarct, SLE, rheumatic fe-ver, allergies, drugs, neoplasms of heart and lung, sarcoma, pleurisy

Phys:

Infection of the pericardium by virus, bacteria (incl. TB) or mycoses causes effusion, pain and friction rub. May progress to cardiac failure with acute bacterial infections