Viral heart disease
Viral heart disease, also known as myocarditis, is a heart condition caused by a virus. The virus attacks the heart muscle, causing inflammation and disrupting the electrical pathways that signal the heart to beat properly. Most of the time, the body will heal itself and you may never know you had a problem. However, in rare cases, the infection itself and the resulting inflammation can damage and weaken the heart. This can also trigger heart failure and heart rhythm irregularities.
The Adenovirus typically causes respiratory infections. It may also cause bladder and bowel infections. The virus spreads through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person.
The Cytomegalovirus (CMV) group includes the herpes simplex viruses, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles), and the EpsteinBarr virus (which causes mononucleosis). CMV typically lays dormant and harmless in the body, but it can cause infections, including viral heart infection. The viruses are spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person.
Coxsackievirus B is the most common cause of myocarditis. It can cause the flu or attack the heart, creating an infection that lasts from 2 to 10 days. Cardiac symptoms can potentially occur within two weeks.
This virus is transmitted through faecal material.
Enteric cytopathic human orphan viruses (Echo) typically cause gastrointestinal infections and skin rashes. You may contract the virus by coming into contact with contaminated stool or by breathing in air particles from an infected person.
Human parvovirus B19 causes the so-called fifth disease, an illness characterised by mild rash that’s more common in children than adults. The virus spreads through saliva or nasal mucus.
Because many viral heart infections create no visible symptoms, the infection can go unnoticed.
In rare cases, the infection itself and the resulting inflammation can damage and weaken the heart.
Symptoms that may occur include:
An abnormal heartbeat
Chest pain
Fatigue
Fever
Muscle aches
Sore throat
Joint or leg pain or swelling
Fainting or shortness of breath. Treatment will vary depending on the severity of the infection and its effects on the heart. - Source: Healthline
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