Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Suggest Remedy For Persistent Chest Pain And Elevated Cardiac Enzymes
My 20 year old healthy son was admitted to the hospital with elevated cardiac isoenzymes and chest pain. Initially they thought it was a virus but the pain has persisted and they are now unsure what is causing it. they are leaving him on his medication and waiting to see if it gets better. If it is a true pericarditis how long would symptoms last and is there a definitive test to diagnose?
Wed, 17 May 2017
Hello
Welcome to HCM
Going by your description seems like he suffered from viral pericarditis. Viral pericarditis is characterised by pain fever and rise in cardiac enyzmes. There is no specific treatment for viral pericarditis except supportive treatment with analgesics, iv fluids and anti pyretics.
The pain in viral pericarditis can take around a month to abate and the patient had to be on pain medications like diclofenac for the same.
Prognosis of viral pericarditis is usually good. There is no definitive test that can establish a diagnosis. A 2 d echo along with signs of inflammation suggested by high ESR, high wbc counts,pericardial fluid accumulation together suggest a diagnosis of pericarditis. Occasionally if pericardial fluid is present, it can be aspirated and checked for its characteristics and bacterial growth.
Wishing him good health
Regards
Welcome to HCM
Going by your description seems like he suffered from viral pericarditis. Viral pericarditis is characterised by pain fever and rise in cardiac enyzmes. There is no specific treatment for viral pericarditis except supportive treatment with analgesics, iv fluids and anti pyretics.
The pain in viral pericarditis can take around a month to abate and the patient had to be on pain medications like diclofenac for the same.
Prognosis of viral pericarditis is usually good. There is no definitive test that can establish a diagnosis. A 2 d echo along with signs of inflammation suggested by high ESR, high wbc counts,pericardial fluid accumulation together suggest a diagnosis of pericarditis. Occasionally if pericardial fluid is present, it can be aspirated and checked for its characteristics and bacterial growth.
Wishing him good health
Regards
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Pericarditis
Loading Online Doctors....