Home Health Center
Endocarditis
Endocarditis - Symptoms
Symptoms of Endocarditis
The development of Endocarditis may be gradual or sudden, depending upon the causes and the overall condition of your heart. The signs and symptoms of Endocarditis may vary considerably from one person to the other. Given below are some of the most common symptoms of Endocarditis:
- Chills and fever
- Excessive perspiration
- Pain in the muscles and joints
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in the abdomen, legs or feet
- Shortness of breath after any activity
- Nail abnormalities like splinter hemorrhages
- Reddish and tender spots on the skin under the fingers
- Persistent cough
- Paleness
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- Traces of blood in the urine
- Tiny, colored spots on the skin, inside of the mouth, or the white of the eyes
- Tenderness in the spleen
Many patients experience a changed or a new heart murmur, which is an abnormal heart sound made when the blood rushes through the heart. You may not detect this on your own, but a doctor usually checks for this symptom while examining a patient during an Endocarditis evaluation checkup.
Unfortunately, many of the signs and symptoms mentioned above can be caused by other conditions that are not as serious as Endocarditis. This is probably why several people do not take these symptoms very seriously and leave them unchecked. However, it is absolutely essential to go in for a complete evaluation, in case you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above. This is all the more important if you are suffering from any heart defects or have a previous history of Endocarditis.