Myocarditis is a condition where the muscular walls of the heart become inflamed. Myocarditis typically results in poor heart function.

There are many causes of myocarditis, including:

• infection;
• medications;
• chemicals;
• radiation;
• certain diseases that cause inflammation in many different organs of the body; and
• in most children, myocarditis is triggered by an infection, usually viral, involving the heart.

There are no known risk factors for developing myocarditis. Age, sex, and genetic make-up may all play a role in how severe the disease becomes once you have it.

Treatment for myocarditis is based on how badly the heart is affected. Many children have a complete recovery, but some may develop serious heart failure and require chronic care from a cardiologist.

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© Cardiomyopathy UK. February 2018.