How Do You Treat Endocarditis?
Endocarditis is infection of the heart valves. People with infectious endocarditis usually have symptoms of fever and fatigue. Some others might also have muscle pain and malaise. If you have an abnormality of your heart valve, you are more likely to get endocarditis. If you have a prosthetic heart valve, you are also more likely to get endocarditis. When you go to the doctor to get a physical exam, the doctor might notice signs such as a fever, neurologic defects, a heart murmur, and skin lesions. Labs are sometimes possitive for bacteria, and a kidney test might be positive for inflammation. The doctors will also check your white blood cell count, a urinalysis, and rheumatoid factor. To get effective endocarditis treatment, you must first find out what is causing it. First, get an echocardiogram. This will tell you whether you have a mass on your valve or not. Also get blood cultures. Second, get started on antibiotics. This is the best treatment for endocarditis. People with endocar
