Post Date December, 03 2023
Xiao Wei developed symptoms such as a cough and runny nose ten days ago. She gave her son a common cold medicine and temporarily improved. These days, my son has been feeling tired and short of breath. My mother thought my child was playing too hard, so she didn't take it to heart. She didn't wake up until Xiao Wei shouted, "My chest feels bad." She quickly took him to the hospital for treatment. The results showed that Xiao Wei had viral myocarditis. How can the heart be shot after catching a cold?
The reporter learned from the People's Hospital of Guangdong Province that since the autumn, the outpatient department of cardiology has received many patients with viral myocarditis caused by colds, mostly primary and secondary school students. Experts point out that autumn and spring are the high incidence seasons of viral myocarditis. Most viral myocarditis is caused by the virus attacking the human body and triggering immune "over alert", which generally occurs 1 to 3 weeks after catching a cold. The most important thing to prevent viral myocarditis is to prevent colds and enterovirus infections. Viral myocarditis has a good prognosis, reasonable rest is very important, and correct treatment can fully recover.
Symptoms: nausea, dizziness, chest tightness after catching a cold
Jin Lijun, the chief physician of the Department of Cardiology of the People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, pointed out that myocarditis is mainly divided into three types: infectious, allergic, and toxic myocarditis. Among them, infectious myocarditis is also divided into bacterial and viral types, and the most common type is viral myocarditis.
Viral myocarditis can be caused by a cold and usually occurs 1 to 3 weeks after the cold. The main cause of the disease is the direct action of the virus or the excessive immune response of the human body, with the latter being the main cause. On the one hand, enteroviruses such as Coxsackie virus, Eko virus, and influenza virus enter the myocardium, causing direct damage to the myocardium. On the other hand, after the virus enters the body, it produces an "antigen antibody complex" with the myocardium within 1-3 weeks, causing damage to the myocardium.
"The symptoms of viral myocarditis vary from mild to severe. Most patients have mild symptoms that pass quickly, and children or parents generally cannot detect them, but a few of the consequences are very serious." Jin Lijun pointed out that the mild symptoms are usually fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and chest tightness after catching a cold. In severe cases, symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, shock, and even sudden death can occur.
He emphasized that if a child has arrhythmia such as frequent premature beats, atrioventricular block, etc., most of them may be caused by viral myocarditis, and parents must pay attention to it. Viral myocarditis is a self limiting disease that can develop into chronic heart disease if not effectively treated.
Most likely to be recruited: primary and secondary school students
"People often mistakenly believe that the younger the age of viral myocarditis is, the higher the incidence rate is. In fact, it is not." Jin Lijun said that because excessive immune response is the main cause of viral myocarditis, adults generally have strong resistance, while infants generally do not have excessive immune response. Therefore, from the perspective of age, most of them are concentrated in children and adolescents. Especially for students, learning pressure and overwork cause their resistance to decline.
Jin Lijun pointed out that people who are prone to catching colds and have weak physiques are also prone to getting sick. In addition, the environment is also one of the predisposing factors for the onset of the disease. "Generally, people should avoid going to densely populated areas or places where the virus is easily transmitted."
Don't run or climb stairs during convalescence
"The prognosis of viral myocarditis is very good, and it is a treatable disease, so it is not terrible." Jin Lijun said that the first treatment after the onset of the disease is crucial, and generally does not recur after treatment.
If a child is unlucky enough to be recruited, reasonable rest is extremely important, as it can help the diseased myocardium recover as soon as possible. Jin Lijun emphasized that people should generally stay in bed and rest until their temperature returns to normal levels, and then conduct daily activities in another 3-4 weeks; "Patients with severe conditions, such as cardiac enlargement, need to take a break from school for six months to a year until their heart returns to normal state.". "Many students and parents expressed reluctance to discontinue school when they heard about it," he said, but it is worth doing so because if they do not rest well, they may develop into chronic persistent myocarditis, and in severe cases, cardiomyopathy, with very serious consequences.
During the rest period, patients with mild illness can engage in daily activities, such as grooming, walking, walking, and so on. They can also surf the Internet and read books. These mental tasks generally do not increase the burden on the heart, but they should avoid strenuous exercise such as running, climbing stairs, and so on. During the acute phase, if there are indications such as high fever, elevated myocardial enzymes, and cardiac enlargement, "absolute bed rest" is required.
