The heart is a very important organ in our body. It is like the engine of our body. But sometimes this heart can also develop various diseases. Today we are going to talk about a condition that can develop in the heart, which requires a little care, but can be controlled if you are properly aware. That is a disease called `(Infective Endocarditis)` . You may not have heard of this name, but it is very important to know about this.
What is this `(Infective Endocarditis)`? Simply put...
Simply put, `(Infective Endocarditis)` means that a germ enters the inner layer of your heart, that is, the `(Endocardium)` , or the heart valves (Valves), and causes an infection. Think of it, the valves in our heart are like doors. These valves help blood flow in only one direction. Normally, these valves are very strong and easily resist germs (bacteria, fungi). That is why this condition called `(Infective Endocarditis)` is a bit rare. But if it occurs, it can be a bit serious.
How does this happen? How do germs get to the heart?
Okay, now let's look at how this `(Infective Endocarditis)` develops. It starts when bacteria (Bacteria) or fungi (Fungi) somehow enter your bloodstream. Most of the time, that is , about four out of every five cases, it is caused by bacteria called `(Streptococcus)` and `(Staphylococcus)`.
You might be thinking, "Oh, how can these bacteria get into the bloodstream?" Think about it, if you get a small cut on your gums while brushing your teeth, bacteria can get into the bloodstream. Or, even if you're having major surgery, especially open-heart surgery, bacteria can get in.
Bacteria that enter the blood, travel through the bloodstream, and settle in previously damaged areas, such as the endocardium or valves of the heart. Just like dust particles stick to a damp surface. There, these bacteria form colonies. We call these "vegetations." These colonies release toxins and enzymes. These destroy healthy cells and interfere with the healing process.
Who is more likely to develop this? (Risk factors)
Although anyone can develop infective endocarditis, some people are at higher risk. This is especially true for people with structural heart disease . This includes:
- People who have damaged heart valves due to other medical conditions: For example, those who have damaged valves due to `(Rheumatic Heart Disease)`.
- People with Congenital Heart Disease: That is, people who are born with some kind of heart defect.
These conditions can affect the function of heart valves. For example:
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
- `(Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease)` (Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease)
- Regurgitation (leakage of blood from heart valves)
- `(Mitral Valve Prolapse)` (Mitral valve prolapse)
In addition to this, there are other risk factors:
- Men: Men are about twice as likely to develop this disease than women.
- Older age: This usually occurs most often in people over 50 years of age.
What are the possible side effects of this?
If a condition called ``Infective Endocarditis'' is not diagnosed and treated early, the bacteria can grow and spread, causing serious side effects. One of the main ones is heart failure.
Also, if initial treatment is not successful, a condition called `(Emboli)` may occur. `(Emboli)` are small blood clots that break off from the aforementioned bacterial colonies `(Vegetations). If these travel through the bloodstream and get stuck in a blood vessel, they can block the flow of blood to an important organ. This can cause complications that can even be life-threatening.
Imagine, this is like when a piece of trash gets stuck in a water pipe, the water stops flowing.
The possible side effects of these `(Emboli)` are:
- Spleen enlargement and pain.
- Kidney damage.
- Blood clots traveling to the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism).
- Stroke.
- Damage to distal limbs, such as fingertips.
What are the main causes of `(Infective Endocarditis)`?
Certain heart conditions and heart treatments can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. These are the main causes of ``Infective Endocarditis``.
- Artificial Heart Valves: These are more likely to develop infections than natural valves.
- Conditions that require the insertion of devices such as pacemakers: Especially if the wires of these devices pass through blood vessels.
- If you have had a heart transplant.
- A condition called `(Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy)` (thickening of the heart muscle).
- If you have had open-heart surgery.
- If you have previously had `(Infective Endocarditis)`.
Are there other reasons?
Very rarely, this condition can occur in people with healthy hearts. Possible causes include:
- A catheter is something that stays in the blood vessels for a long time: for example, long-term catheters used to give chemotherapy to cancer patients.
- Diseases that weaken the immune system: For example, `(HIV)` and `(AIDS)`.
- Having an infection elsewhere in the body.
- Injecting intravenous street drugs using dirty needles is very dangerous.
- Poor oral hygiene: This causes a lot of bacteria to accumulate in the mouth.
- Using a dirty needle when injecting medication into a vein for medical reasons.
What are the symptoms of this disease? Things you can see...
Symptoms of `(Infective Endocarditis)` often affect your heart and respiratory system. You may experience things like:
- Chest pain.
- An abnormal heart sound (a ``Heart Murmur'' that a doctor hears when listening with a ``stethoscope'').
- Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea).
- Rapid heartbeat (Tachycardia).
In addition to this, other symptoms may appear:
- Blood in the urine (Hematuria).
- Chills.
- Fatigue.
- `(Janeway Lesions)`: Red, painless spots that appear on the palms and soles of the feet.
- Joint Pain.
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
- A persistent low-grade fever for which no cause can be found.
- Muscle pain.
- Excessive sweating at night (Night Sweats).
- Osler Nodules: Painful lumps that appear on the hands and feet.
- Splinter Hemorrhages: Small blood-like spots visible under the nails.
- Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: A bleeding appearance in the white of the eye.
- Swelling in the abdomen or lower body.
These symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually. Sometimes these symptoms may seem like a normal flu, but it's important to be aware of these symptoms, especially if you have heart disease.
How is this disease diagnosed? What do doctors do?
Diagnosis begins with your symptoms and medical history. If you have had a heart valve disease before and have a fever for no reason, that is a major suspicion. Also, if you have a combination of other symptoms related to the disease `(Infective Endocarditis)`, suspicion may arise. However, to know for sure, you need to get tested.
What tests will be done?
- Bacteria Culture Test: This helps determine if there are bacteria in the blood, and if so, what type.
- In addition, other tests may be needed to plan treatment. These include:
- Antibody Serology Tests: This can confirm the exact type of bacteria present in the blood.
- Heart `(Echocardiogram)` tests: This can check the condition of the heart valves, whether there are bacterial colonies called `(Vegetations)`, and how large they are. There are two types of `(Echocardiogram)`:
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE): This is a scan that is usually done on the surface of the chest.
- Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE): This involves inserting a small probe through the throat and scanning the heart. This can produce clearer images than a TTE.
What treatment is there for this?
The primary treatment for infective endocarditis is antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are usually given first. These may help relieve symptoms, but they may not be enough to completely clear up the infection.
Once the results of the aforementioned ``Antibody Serology Test'' come back, doctors will switch you to a ``Targeted Antibiotic'' that targets the specific type of bacteria in your blood. This treatment may need to be given intravenously (IV) for four to six weeks. This may mean a stay in the hospital.
Will I have to have surgery?
If the bacterial colonies, or `(Vegetations),` are small, antibiotics alone may be sufficient. However, if these `(Vegetations)` are large, surgery (Infective Endocarditis Surgery) may be required to remove them and replace the damaged valves.
Also, if these `(Vegetations)` spread to surrounding tissues, surgery may be necessary. In some severe cases, it may be better to perform surgery before starting antibiotics. However, researchers are still studying the circumstances in which surgery is appropriate before antibiotics.
How can I prevent this from happening? Prevention is the best!
In the past, people at risk of developing ``Infective Endocarditis`` were given daily antibiotics. However, this method has now been changed because it increases the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Doctors now prescribe short-term antibiotics before certain medical procedures, such as dental procedures. Prophylactic antibiotics are only used in people who are at high risk of developing infective endocarditis, such as people with prosthetic heart valves.
The most important thing is to take good care of your oral and dental health. Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day and using dental floss are very important.
What are the chances of curing this disease?
If not diagnosed early and treated with rapid and aggressive antibiotics, the chances of recovery from this disease are slim. That is, the longer treatment is delayed, the more serious the condition can become. If treated promptly and properly, the chances of survival are high. However, if side effects occur, the recovery time may be prolonged.
What will life be like after developing `(Infective Endocarditis)`?
If you've had Infective Endocarditis once, you're at a higher risk of getting it again. But don't worry, there are things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Brush and floss twice a day. Oral health is the most important thing.
- Talk to everyone, including your doctors and dentist, about your risk of developing `(Infective Endocarditis)`. Keep them informed.
- Have your teeth cleaned by a dentist every six months.
- If you have heart valve disease, follow your doctor's instructions carefully to prevent your symptoms from getting worse.
Infective endocarditis is a bacterial infection of the lining of your heart valves. Although this is a rare condition, it can be challenging to treat. However, it is possible to recover. If you are at risk, it is important to minimize your exposure to bacteria. You can do this by taking good care of your teeth and gums. If you are going to have a medical procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to protect yourself.
So, what are the things we should remember from this story?
Okay, we've talked a lot about `(Infective Endocarditis)` now. Finally, here are the most important things you need to remember:
* `(Infective Endocarditis)` is a serious infection of the inner lining of the heart or its valves.
* Although this is rare, it should be treated promptly if it occurs.
* Oral and dental hygiene is very important! Don't forget to brush and floss your teeth daily.
* If you have heart disease, be especially aware of symptoms such as fever and fatigue.
* Before any medical treatment, inform your doctor if you are at risk for `(Infective Endocarditis)`.
* Don't panic, but be aware. If detected early, it can be treated successfully.
If you have any more questions about this, ask your family doctor or a cardiologist. A healthy heart is important to everyone!
` Heart disease, heart infections, endocarditis, bacterial infections, heart valves, symptoms, treatment
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