Pericarditis
Pericarditis Definition. Inflammation of the lining around the heart (the pericardium) that causes chest pain and accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion). There are many causes of pericarditis, including infections, injury, radiation treatment, and chronic diseases. SOURCE: MedTerms.  Pericarditis is a disorder caused by inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac-like covering around the heart. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, how much fluid is present, and how quickly it is enlarging the pericardium (thin layer of tissue surrounding the heart). Treatment of the underlying disorder, such as an infection, heart failure, kidney failure, or malnutrition, generally reduces or eliminates the excess fluid. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are often prescribed to calm the inflammation and ease pain and other symptom Infective endocarditis (IE), also called bacterial endocarditis (BE), is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or a blood vessel. IE is uncommon, but people with some heart conditions have a greater risk of developing it.  Types of Heart Infections. Several of the most common types of heart infections include endocarditis, which is an infection of the lining of the heart, or of heart valves inside the heart. In most cases, endocarditis is caused by bacteria. Another heart infection, called pericarditis, is an infection of the sac that surrounds and cushions the heart, called the pericardial sac. Most commonly referred to as a membrane, pericarditis causes inflammation of this membrane.  Myocarditis can be caused by a variety of infections and conditions such as viruses, sarcoidosis, and immune diseases (such as systemic lupus, etc.), pregnancy, and others. The most common cause of myocarditis is infection of the heart muscle by a virus. The virus invades the heart muscle to cause local inflammation. When myocarditis is more serious, it leads to weakening of the heart muscle. Myocarditis can then cause heart failure (with symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, fluid accumulation in the lungs, etc.) as well as heart rhythm irregularities from inflammation and/or scarring of the electrical system of the heart. Causes of heart infection. Heart infections, such as pericarditis, endocarditis and myocarditis, are caused when an irritant, such as a bacterium, virus or chemical, reaches your heart muscle. The most common causes of heart infections include: 1  Bacteria. 2  Viruses. 3  Parasites. The cause of cardiomyopathy, a thickening or enlarging of the heart muscle, may depend on the type: 1  Dilated cardiomyopathy. 2  The cause of this most common type of cardiomyopathy often is unknown. 3  It may be caused by reduced blood flow to the heart (ischemic heart disease), infections, toxins and certain drugs. Endocarditis is an infection of the heart 's valves or inner lining. It occurs when germs get into the bloodstream and settle inside the heart, often on a valve. The infection is usually caused by bacteria. In rare cases, it is caused by fungi. This infection can damage your heart. It needs to be treated right away. 
http://www.medicinenet.com/pericarditis/article.htm http://healthquestions.medhelp.org/infection-around-the-heart http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/HeartValveProblemsandDisease/Heart-Valves-and-Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_450448_Article.jsp http://www.ehow.com/about_5079526_symptoms-heart-infections.html http://www.medicinenet.com/myocarditis/article.htm http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/basics/causes/CON-20034056 http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/endocarditis-topic-overview
what causes infection around the heart