Medical Health Encyclopedia

Infectious endocarditis

The health care provider may hear changing murmurs in the heart and detect an enlarged spleen and mild anemia. Murmurs result from changes in blood flow across valves when clumps of bacteria, fibrin and cellular debris, called vegetations, collect on the heart valves. The mitral valve is most commonly affected, followed by the aortic valve.

Preexisting conditions that increase the likelihood of developing endocarditis include:

• Congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and others)
• Prior rheumatic heart disease
• Cardiac valve anomalies (such as mitral insufficiency)
• Artificial heart valves

Since Streptococcus viridans is often found in the mouth, dental procedures are the most common cause of bacterial endocarditis. This can put children with congenital heart conditions at risk. As a result, it is common practice for children with some forms of congenital heart disease to start on antibiotics prior to any dental work.

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