By ULY CLINIC staff

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Pericarditis in Children

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Pericarditis is an Inflammation of pericardium caused by

 

• Infections

  • Viral-Coxsackie, Echoviruses, Adenoviruses, influenza,

  • Bacterial- Mycobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococcus, Haemophilus influenza type B, Neisseria meningitides,

  • Fungi,

  • Rickettsia 

  • Protozoa.

• Diseases- (JIA/ JRA, SLE,ARF, Kawasaki disease)Other causes include post operative: (ASD, Fontan repair), collagen vascular

 

Diagnostic Criteria

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• Precordial pain worsened by inspiration

• Dyspnoea

• Fever

• Cardiac tamponade

• Pulsus paradoxicus

• Distended neck veins (raised JVP)

• Distant and muffled heart sounds.

• Hepatomegaly

 

Investigations
 

• FBP and ESR

• Chest X Ray

• ECG and Echocardiogram

• Viral antibody screening (within 3-4weeks of onset of illness)

• ASOT

• Rheumatoid factor

Treatment

Non Pharmacological treatment
 

• Bed rest

• Oxygen 4l/min in case of severe respiratory distress

• Pericardiocentesis (removal of pericardial fluid) if there is tamponade

• Treat the underlying cause

• eptic pericarditis will require intensive antibacterial treatment according to the sensitivities of the causal bacteria preferably IV for 4 weeks (drain pericardial effusion by paracentesis or thoracotomy).

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Last updated on 26.09.2020

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References

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1. ​Tanzanian Standard treatment guideline for children 2017 edition page 108