What are the effects of pericarditis?

Pericarditis: Most patients who suffere viral pericarditis have a limited disease that resolves in 2-3 weeks. Occasionally some patients have a more protracted course and with more severe symptoms. Some of these patiens go and develop chornic pericarditis with thickening of the prericardium and eventually symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Depends: Shortterm effects of pericarditis are usually minimal...Mainly only chest pains; however in severe cases one can develop a pericardial effusion and have problems associated with this (if large and it develops fast can cause tamponade and death if not drained). This is very rare. If one has recurrent pericarditis, or in other rare circumstances on can develop constriction/restriction from scarring.