Question 1

is pericarditis contagious?

Accepted Answer

Not usually: Pericarditis is inflammation of the sack surrounding the heart.  Can be painful and life-threatening if associated with significant fluid accumulation compromising blood return to heart.  In U.S., there may be infectious causes, e.g., tuberculosis, but these are not transmissible to others.

Question 2

is viral pericarditis contagious?

Accepted Answer

No: Not really as the virus which causes it might be it is unusual for pericarditis to always result as these are usually common cold viruses.

Question 3

is viral pericarditis contagious ?
once the fluid is removed through cath procedure will it reoccur?

Accepted Answer

Can be and maybe: Viral pericarditis is caused by an enteric viral illness which others may catch through oral/fecal contamination: kissing, sharing food utensils, etc. If the fluid is drained, it usually doesn't recur but sometimes it does and you must be watched for this complication.

Question 4

is pericarditis communicable?

Accepted Answer

Generally not: Usually pericarditis is an inflammatory condition that occurs after heart attack or heart surgery. It can also occur with certain inflammatory or auto-immune conditions such as lupus and certain types of arthritis. Infection (which is theoretically contagious) is a less common cause and does not usually spread to other people in most circumstances.

Question 5

what are symptoms of pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Position/breathing: Pericarditis is an inflammation of the tissue sac that surrounds the heart.
 Any maneuver that causes the heart to shift inside the irritated pericardium will make the pain worse.
 Typically is a quite sharp pain that is worsened with deep breathing, and sometimes made better when leaning forward.
 Ecg can demonstrate findings which will support the diagnosis of pericarditis.

Question 6

what are the tests for pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Many: Echocardiogram, heartcath, and MRI just to name a few.

Question 7

what technology is used to treat pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Anti-inflammatories: We usually use anti-inflammatories such as Aspirin and steroids.  For prevention of recurrence, Colchicine is used most effectively.  There are multiple types of pericarditis and one has to know the type before the right treatment is given.  No invasive measure per se is needed to treat the great majority of pericarditis types, constrictive pericarditis being the one exception.

Question 8

what is pericarditis and what are the symptoms ?

Accepted Answer

Irritation : The heart (cardium) exists in a sac (like a zip lock bag) called the pericardium.
Irritation from viral or bacterial or TB infection, heart attack, rheumatic and other disease can cause irritation and pain of pericarditis.

Question 9

which viruses cause pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Several: Echo and coxsackie or less commonly influenza or hiv.

Question 10

how can you prevent pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Pericarditis: Simple. You can't :-)
it's an inflammatory process...

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