Cardiology Infectious/Immunogenic Flashcards
Chagas Disease
Caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis
SYMPTOMS: Swelling at the infection site.
Fever.
Fatigue.
Rash.
Body aches.
Eyelid swelling.
Headache.
Loss of appetite.
CAUSE: caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)
- Yellow Fever
- Dengue Fever
- Filoviruses
A group of diseases that are caused by several distinct families of viruses. The term “viral hemorrhagic fever” refers to a condition that affects many organ systems of the body, damages the overall cardiovascular system, and reduces the body’s ability to function on its own.
It is a condition that affects many organ systems of the body, damages the overall cardiovascular system, and reduces the body’s ability to function on its own. Symptoms of this type of condition can vary but often include bleeding, or hemorrhaging.
SYMPTOMS: Fever.
Fatigue, weakness or general feeling of being unwell.
Dizziness.
Muscle, bone or joint aches.
Nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea.
CAUSE: Spread by contact with infected animals or insects. The viruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers live in a variety of animal and insect hosts. Most commonly the hosts include mosquitoes, ticks, rodents or bats.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus.
Most people infected with yellow fever virus do not get sick or have only mild symptoms. People who do get sick will start having symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches) 3–6 days after they are infected. About 12% of people who have symptoms go on to develop serious illness: jaundice, bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.
Dengue Fever
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The primary vectors that transmit the disease are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.
The virus responsible for causing dengue, is called dengue virus (DENV). There are four DENV serotypes and it is possible to be infected four times.
Filoviruses
Viruses in the family Filoviridae can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in people and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys and gorillas) and may spread in other animals, such as bats. Filoviruses are enveloped in a lipid (fatty) membrane and appear in several shapes. Each virion (complete, infective form of a virus) contains one molecule of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA.
Viral Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). The inflammation can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood. Myocarditis can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid or irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Infection with a virus is one cause of myocarditis
SYMPTOMS: Signs of a viral infection, such as body aches, joint pain, fever, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea or a sore throat.
Rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Chest pain.
Shortness of breath, both at rest and during physical activity.
CAUSE: COVID-19; hepatitis B and C; parvovirus, which causes a mild rash, usually in children (fifth disease); and herpes simplex virus
Bacterial Endocarditis
Endocarditis occurs when bacteria or other germs enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. The germs then stick to damaged heart valves or damaged heart tissue. Endocarditis is a life-threatening inflammation of the inner lining of the heart’s chambers and valves. This lining is called the endocardium. Endocarditis is usually caused by an infection with bacteria, fungi or other germs. The germs enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. In the heart, they attach to damaged heart valves or damaged heart tissue. Usually, the body’s immune system destroys any harmful bacteria that enter the bloodstream
SYMPTOMS: Aching joints and muscles.
Chest pain when you breathe.
Fatigue.
Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills.
Night sweats.
Shortness of breath.
Swelling in the feet, legs or belly.
A new or changed whooshing sound in the heart (murmur)
CAUSE:
staphylococcus aureus bacteria and occasionally by the bacterial strains brucella and listeria. This form of infective endocarditis, compared to other forms, is more likely to affect normal heart valves
acronym stands for Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella: all HACEK members are fastidious Gram-negative bacteria associated with infective endocarditis.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pericarditis often causes sharp chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other. Pericarditis is usually mild and goes away without treatment.
Bacterial pericarditis occurs by direct infection during trauma, thoracic surgery, or catheter drainage, by spread from an intrathoracic, myocardial, or subdiaphragmatic focus, and by hematogenous dissemination.
SYMPTOMS: Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis.
Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include:
Cough.
Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick.
Leg swelling.
Low-grade fever.
Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
Shortness of breath when lying down.
Swelling of the belly (abdomen)
CAUSE: The frequent causes are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus (rheumatic pancarditis), Haemophilus, and M. tuberculosis
Pericarditis
- Primary
- Secondary
Swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pericarditis often causes sharp chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other. Pericarditis is usually mild and goes away without treatment.
SYMPTOMS: Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis.
Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include:
Cough.
Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick.
Leg swelling.
Low-grade fever.
Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
Shortness of breath when lying down.
Swelling of the belly (abdomen)
CAUSE: Immune system response after heart damage due to a heart attack or heart surgery (Dressler syndrome, also called postmyocardial infarction syndrome or postcardiac injury syndrome) Infection, such as COVID-19. Inflammatory disorders, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Raynaud’s Syndrome
Secondary to Raynaud’s phenomenon
Rheumatic Fever
An inflammatory condition
Rheumatic fever is a condition that can inflame or make the heart, joints, brain, and skin swell. Rheumatic fever is thought to be an immune response to an earlier infection. As the body’s defense system, the immune system is important in fighting off infections
SYMPTOMS: Fever and painful, tender joints are common symptoms
Fever.
Arthritis (painful, tender joints), most commonly in the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists.
Symptoms of congestive heart failure, including chest pain, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat.
Fatigue (tiredness)
Chorea (jerky, uncontrollable body movements)
CAUSE: Rheumatic fever may develop if strep throat or scarlet fever infections are not treated properly or after strep skin infections (impetigo). Bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep) cause these infections
Thromboangiitis Obliterans
(Buerger disease) is caused by small blood vessels that become inflamed and swollen. The blood vessels then narrow or get blocked by blood clots (thrombosis). Blood vessels of the hands and feet are mostly affected.
SYMPTOMS: Fingers or toes that appear pale, red, or bluish and feel cold to the touch.
Sudden severe pain in the hands and feet.
Pain in the hands and feet that most often occurs when at rest.
Pain in the legs, ankles, or feet when walking (intermittent claudication).
CAUSE: small blood vessels that become inflamed and swollen. The blood vessels then narrow or get blocked by blood clots (thrombosis). Blood vessels of the hands and feet are mostly affected.
Vasculitis
Involves inflammation of the blood vessels. The inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken, which reduces the width of the passageway through the vessel. If blood flow is restricted, it can result in organ and tissue damage. There are many types of vasculitis, and most of them are rare.
SYMPTOMS: Vasculitis can make your eyes look red and itch or burn. Giant cell arteritis can cause double vision and temporary or permanent blindness in one or both eyes. This is sometimes the first sign of the disease.
Symptoms
Fever.
Headache.
Fatigue.
Weight loss.
General aches and pains.
CAUSE: The exact cause of vasculitis isn’t fully understood. Some types are related to a person’s genetic makeup. Others result from the immune system attacking blood vessel cells by mistake.
