Infectious endocarditis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Infective endocarditis

Janeway lesion on the finger

Infectious endocarditis

Alternative Names:

Endocarditis - infectious
Symptoms:

Fatigue
Weakness
Fever
Chills
Night sweats (may be severe)
Weight loss
Muscle aches and pains
Heart murmur
Shortness of breath with activity
Swelling of feet, legs, abdomen
Blood in the urine
Excessive sweating
Red skin spots on the palms and soles (Janeway lesions)
Paleness
Nail abnormalities (splinter hemorrhages under the nails)
Joint pain
Abnormal urine color
Red, painful intradermal nodes in the pads of the fingers and toes called Osler's nodes

Signs and tests:

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A history of congenital heart disease raises the level of suspicion. A physical examination may show an enlarged spleen. The examiner 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.

The following tests that may be performed:

Repeated blood culture and sensitivity (#1 test for detection)
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
CBC (complete blood count) may show low grade, microcytic (small red blood cells) anemia
Echocardiogram
Transesophageal echocardiogram
Chest x-ray
CT scan of the chest
ASO (anti-streptolysin O) test