Pediatric Acute Myocarditis: Current Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

摘要

Myocarditis is a common disease in the pediatric population with variable clinical presentations. It is usually categorized into four major types, such as acute, fulminant, chronic active, and chronic persistent.1) The accurate diagnosis of pediatric acute myocarditis is difficult because the symptoms are frequently non-specific, especially in infants and children. Acute fulminant myocarditis is characterized by a sudden onset of severe congestive heart failure or cardiogenic shock after a flu-like illness. Aggressive treatment is warranted in these patients, including mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation in patients with persistent myocardial dysfunction.