Endocarditis and Symptoms

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium).

Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart. Left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves and can lead to life-threatening complications. Treatments for endocarditis include antibiotics and, in severe cases, surgery.

Endocarditis is uncommon in people with healthy hearts. People at greatest risk of endocarditis have a damaged heart valve, an artificial heart valve or other heart defects.

Symptoms

Endocarditis may develop slowly or suddenly — depending on what's causing the infection and whether you have any underlying heart problems. The infection can infect different people differently, so signs and symptoms vary. They may include:

• Fever
• Chills
• A new or changed heart murmur — abnormal heart sounds made by blood rushing through your heart
• Fatigue
• Aching joints and muscles
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Paleness
• Persistent cough
• Swelling in your feet, legs or abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood in your urine (either visible or found in a doctor's viewing of your urine under a microscope)
• Tenderness in your spleen — an infection-fighting abdominal organ on your left side, just below your rib cage
• Osler's nodes — red, tender spots under the skin of your fingers
• Petechiae (puh-TEE-key-e) — tiny purple or red spots on the skin, whites of your eyes or inside your mouth