Saturday, March 6, 2010

Pericarditis-bacterial disease and tips on how to treat

Description:
Pericarditis-bacterial is irritation and swelling of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart, due to infection by bacteria. Bacterial infections are one cause of pericarditis. Since the emergence of antibiotic-Bacterial pericarditis is relatively rare. Pericarditis-bacterial most commonly occurs in men ages 20 to 50 years. -Bacterial pericarditis can also occur after skin or oral infections that produce bacteremia (bacterial infection in the blood) and after cardiac surgery.

A bacterial infection causes inflammation of the pericardium. Pain occurs as a result of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart. Fluids can accumulate in the pericardial sac. The most common organisms that cause this condition staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenza (also called H.flu), and meningococcus.

Symptom
* Chest pain
- Maybe move (radiate) to the neck, shoulders, back or stomach
- Pain piercing
- Increased respiratory hospital
- Sit up straight or stand up can reduce the pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Dry cough
- Worried
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Sweating

Treatment
The goal of treatment is to treat the infection. Aggressive antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. Other drugs may include analgesics to reduce pain and diuretics to remove excess fluid. Aspirin, ibuprofen, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids may be prescribed to eliminate the inflammation of the pericardium. Resting with pillows elevated advised to reduce the workload on the heart.

Pericardiocentesis (removal of fluid from the pericardial sac) is necessary to drain infected pericardial fluid and to prevent or treat cardiac tamponade. Surgical pericardiectomy (cutting or removal of part of the pericardium) may be recommended if bacterial pericarditis is chronic or recurrent.