What are signs and symptoms of myocarditis?
The symptoms of myocarditis may be subtle, making the diagnosis difficult, or the child may experience overt symptoms of heart failure. Clinical experience has shown the severity of symptoms or illness is dependent upon the age of the child. Children over 2 years of age may be less symptomatic than newborns and infants who are usually more severely affected. This is thought to be due to the immaturity of a baby’s immune system. Infections may be acquired during pregnancy (Rubella for example) via transmission of the infectious agent from mother to baby. In general, infants with myocarditis will appear anxious, listless and weak. They are often breathing fast and having difficulty feeding. There is evidence of poor circulation manifested by cool, pale hands and feet. Due to poor circulation throughout the body, the kidneys may not be functioning normally; therefore, they may have decreased urine production. There may be fever or other evidence of infection. In older infants, the finding
