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Symptoms

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Endocarditis can develop slowly or suddenly, depending on which microbes it is caused by. The type of infection, the organs that may be affected, and the existence of previous heart problems also have an impact.

For example, there are more aggressive bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can develop in a few days or weeks, while others can go undetected for months.

The clinical manifestations of endocarditis can vary greatly from one person to another.

The most common symptoms are similar to those of flu:

Fever

Chills

Feeling of tiredness (asthaenia)

However, other, less common symptoms can also occur:

Shortness of breath

Swelling of the legs (due to heart failure).

Chest pain when breathing.

Loss of strength in one half of the body (due to cerebral embolism).

Joint pain.

Night sweats.

Spots on the skin.

Unexplained weight loss.

Substantiated information by:

Eduardo Quintana Obrador Vascular Surgeon Cardiovascular Surgery Department

Josep M. Miró Meda

Marta Hernández Meneses

Published: 1 December 2021
Updated: 1 December 2021

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