Pericarditis

Need to know

• What are the symptoms of pericarditis? icon plus

  If you develop pericarditis, you'll probably notice some or all of the following:

  • a sharp or stabbing pain in the chest
  • neck pain, which may extend across the shoulders or arms
  • a fever that comes and goes
  • lightheadedness
  • nausea
  • shortness of breath, which may come on suddenly

• Diagnosing pericarditis icon plus

  Tests for pericarditis can include:

  • a physical assessment
  • looking at your medical history
  • an echocardiogram to detect the presence of fluid
  • an electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect changes to your heart rhythm
  • a chest X-ray
  • blood tests to check for inflammation

  Your consultant will also consider risk factors such as the following, which can cause pericarditis:

  • a previous heart attack
  • a viral or bacterial infection
  • another inflammatory condition
  • kidney failure
  • inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Usually you would be prescribed anti-inflammatory painkillers for one or two weeks. If the condition persists, you may be given stronger medication, steroids or antibiotics if the infection is bacterial. On rare occasions, pericarditis can lead to a significant pericardial effusion, a build-up of fluid around the heart, which might need treatment. Most people recover from pericarditis within weeks or sometimes months. If you have chronic pericarditis, you may find that the condition keeps coming back, in which case your consultant will discuss how to manage it.