Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. It causes sharp chest pain that worsens with certain movements or positions. While usually mild and self-limiting, pericarditis can be caused by infection, autoimmune diseases, injury, or other cardiac issues. Symptoms include chest pain and other signs like cough, fatigue, or palpitations. Treatment focuses on resolving the underlying cause, and complications may include fluid buildup around the heart or thickening/scarring of the pericardium if not addressed.

1. PERICARDITIS

2. Learning objectives
• Definition
• Causes
• Signs and symptoms
• Management
• complications

3. Definition
• Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue
surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pericarditis often causes sharp
chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the
pericardium rub against each other.
• Pericarditis is usually mild and goes away without treatment.
Treatment for more-severe cases may include medications and, rarely,
surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the risk of
long-term complications from pericarditis.

5. causes
• The real cause is idiopathic but there are some predisposing factors
• Immune system response after heart damage
• Respiratory Infections such as Covid
• Inflammatory disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Injury to the heart or chest
• Other diseases such as cancer and kidney failure

6. Clinical manifestation
• Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis. It usually feels sharp or stabbing. However, some
people have dull, achy or pressure-like chest pain.
• Pericarditis pain usually occurs behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest. The pain may:
• Spread to the left shoulder and neck
• Get worse when coughing, lying down or taking a deep breath
• Get better when sitting up or leaning forward
• Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include:
• Cough
• Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick
• Leg swelling
• Low-grade fever
• Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
• Shortness of breath when lying down
• Swelling of the belly (abdomen)

7. Types of pericarditis
• Acute pericarditis begins suddenly but doesn't last longer than three
weeks. Future episodes can occur. It may be difficult to tell the
difference between acute pericarditis and pain due to a heart attack.
• Recurrent pericarditis occurs about four to six weeks after an episode
of acute pericarditis with no symptoms in between.
• Incessant pericarditis lasts about four to six weeks but less than three
months. The symptoms are continuous.
• Chronic constrictive pericarditis usually develops slowly and lasts
longer than three months.

8. complications
• Fluid buildup around the heart (pericardial effusion). The fluid buildup
can lead to further heart complications.
• Thickening and scarring of the heart lining (constrictive
pericarditis). Some people with long-term pericarditis develop permanent
thickening and scarring of the pericardium. The changes prevent the heart
from filling and emptying properly. This unusual complication often leads
to severe swelling of the legs and abdomen and shortness of breath.
• Pressure on the heart due to fluid buildup (cardiac tamponade). This life-
threatening condition prevents the heart from filling properly. Less blood
leaves the heart, causing a dramatic drop in blood pressure. Cardiac
tamponade requires emergency treatment.s

9. prevention
• Follow good hygiene.
• Avoid direct contact with people with flu like symptoms
• Early vaccination.