Endocarditis
Alternative Names
Valve infectionSymptoms
- Abnormal urine color
- Blood in the urine
- Chills
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Heart murmur
- Joint pain
- Muscle aches and pains
- Night sweats
- Nail abnormalities (splinter hemorrhages under the nails)
- Paleness
- Red, painless skin spots on the palms and soles (Janeway lesions)
- Red, painful nodes in the pads of the fingers and toes (Osler's nodes)
- Shortness of breath with activity
- Swelling of feet, legs, abdomen
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Note: Endocarditis symptoms can develop slowly (subacute) or suddenly (acute).
Exams and Tests
Doctors might suspect endocarditis in people with a history of:
- Congenital heart disease
- Intravenous drug use
- Recent dental work
- Rheumatic fever
Physical examination may reveal an enlarged spleen.
The health care provider may detect a new heart murmur, or a change in a previous heart murmur. Examination of the nails may show splinter hemorrhages.
Eye examination may show retinal hemorrhages with a central area of clearing (called Roth's spots), and small, pinpoint hemorrhages (petechiae) in the conjunctiva. The fingertips may become enlarged and the nails may curve (clubbing).
Tests:
- CBCanemia
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
- ECG
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Repeated blood culture and sensitivity
- Serology
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
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