Myocarditis - pediatric


Definition

Pediatric myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle in an infant or young child.

Causes

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Myocarditis is rare in young children. It is slightly more common in older children and adults. It is often worse in newborns and young infants than in children over age 2.

Most cases in children are caused by a virus that reaches the heart. These can include:

It may also be caused by bacterial infections such as Lyme disease.

Other causes of pediatric myocarditis include:

Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination has been reported, but is very rare.

The heart muscle may be directly damaged by the virus or the bacteria that infect it. The body's immune response can also damage the heart muscle (called the myocardium) in the process of fighting the infection. This can lead to symptoms of heart failure.

Symptoms

Symptoms may be mild at first and hard to detect. Sometimes in newborns and infants, symptoms may appear suddenly.

Symptoms may include:

Symptoms in children over age 2 may also include:

Exams and Tests

Pediatric myocarditis can be hard to diagnose because the signs and symptoms often mimic those of other heart and lung diseases, or a bad case of the flu.

The health care provider may hear a rapid heartbeat or abnormal heart sounds while listening to the child's chest with a stethoscope.

A physical exam may show:

A chest x-ray can show enlargement (swelling) of the heart. If the provider suspects myocarditis based on the exam and chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram may also be done to help make the diagnosis.

Other tests that may be needed include:

Treatment

There is no cure for myocarditis. The heart muscle inflammation will often go away on its own.

The goal of treatment is to support heart function until the inflammation goes away. Many children with this condition are admitted to a hospital. Activity often needs to be limited while the heart is inflamed because it can strain the heart.

Treatment may include:

Outlook (Prognosis)

Recovery from myocarditis depends on the cause of the problem and the child's overall health. Most children recover completely with proper treatment. However, some may have permanent heart disease.

Newborns have the highest risk for serious disease and complications (including death) due to myocarditis. In rare cases, severe damage to the heart muscle requires a heart transplant.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your child's provider if signs or symptoms of this condition occur.

Prevention

There is no known prevention. However, prompt testing and treatment may reduce the disease risk.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Safety of COVID-19 vaccines. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html. Updated November 3, 2023. Accessed February 26, 2024.

Knowlton KU, Anderson JL, Savoia MC, Oxman MN. Myocarditis and pericarditis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.

McNamara DM. Heart failure as a consequence of viral and nonviral myocarditis. In: Felker GM, Mann DL, eds. Heart Failure: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 28.

Parent JJ, Ware SM. Diseases of the myocardium. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 466.

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