Pericarditis

Pericarditis in children can lead to problems with pain, breathing and heart rhythm. Our pediatric heart team closely observes and treats your child to reduce the risk of pericarditis complications and improve their overall health.

What is pericarditis?

Pericarditis affects the two membranes that wrap around the heart muscle and are separated by fluid. This protective sac, called the pericardium, has three critical roles:

1. Attaches the heart to a structure called the mediastinum, keeping it in place in the chest
2. Protects the heart from infections that may spread from nearby organs (such as the lungs)
3. Lubricates muscle to prevent friction as the heart beats

With pericarditis, the pericardium becomes swollen and irritated (inflamed), causing extra fluid to build up between the membranes. The fluid build up around the heart can eventually force the sac to squeeze the muscle, damaging the heart and making it harder to pump blood. It is more common in adults than in children.

What causes pericarditis in children?

Pericarditis in children happens most frequently due to a viral infection. It may also result from or develop as a side effect of:

• Chest injury
• Connective tissue disorders
• Autoimmune disorders
• Certain medications
• Radiation therapy
• Heart surgery that requires cutting through the pericardium

Symptoms of pericarditis

Symptoms of pericarditis may include:

• Chest pain
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Trouble breathing
• Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Heart palpitations
• Fainting

Pericarditis diagnosis

Our team diagnoses pericarditis by evaluating your child’s symptoms and medical history. We also listen to their heart and lungs to detect any abnormalities.

We want to understand the whole picture of your child’s health, so we typically order diagnostic tests such as:

• Blood tests
• CT or MRI
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• X-ray

Pericarditis treatment at Advocate Children’s Hospital

Most of the time, pericarditis in children is mild. In some cases, though, more intensive treatment is needed. Our cardiology team develops a personalized plan to determine the cause of your child’s pericarditis and remedy it. Examples of treatment include:

• Medications: Drugs may consist of pain relievers, antibiotics to fight infection and anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling .
• Aspiration: Removing or draining the pericardium’s extra fluid with a very fine needle can lessen swelling around your child's heart.
• Surgery: Occasionally, we must perform heart surgery to remove the pericardium. We take this step to improve your child’s health when other treatments can’t relieve the swelling.