Question

In 300 words Perform an Internet search on one cardiac condition or disease. Describe the causes, symptoms, treatment and prognosis for that condition. What medications can be used to treat this condition?

Answer 1

The disesase described is pericarditis. Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the pericardium, often causes chest pain and sometimes other symptoms.

Causes

Idiopathic or suspect a viral infection.

Infection with a germ (bacterium)

Tuberculosis (TB) infection

Uraemic pericarditis. This is inflammation caused by waste products building up in the bloodstream in people with untreated kidney failure.

Radiotherapy to treat cancers in the chest

Also develop shortly after a major heart attack, due to the irritation of the underlying damaged heart muscle

• Systemic inflammatory disorders
• Trauma. Injury to your heart or chest .
• Other health disorders. These may include kidney failure, AIDS, tuberculosis and cancer.
• Certain medications.

Symptoms

• Sharp, piercing chest pain over the center or left side of the chest, which is generally more intense when breathing in
• Shortness of breath when reclining
• Heart palpitations
• Low-grade fever
• An overall sense of weakness, fatigue or feeling sick
• Cough
• Abdominal or leg swelling

Treatment for pericarditis depends on the cause as well as the severity. For example, antituberculosis medication for TB, antibiotic medicines for germ (bacterial) infections, intensive dialysis for uraemic pericarditis, etc.

Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare)

Pain relivers

Corticosteroids

Pericardiocentesis

Pericardiectomy

Prognosis

Viral or idiopathic pericarditis recover fully within a few weeks, without any complications. However, in some cases the symptoms return 'on and off' for several months.

Pericarditis caused by heart attack or injury usually settles over one to two weeks. The outlook for other forms of pericarditis (uraemic, bacterial, TB) can vary depending on the severity of the underlying cause