Special features of myocarditis in children

In about five to ten percent of cases, heart muscle inflammation occurs after a viral infection. Since children on average are more likely to get infected than adults, special caution is required with them. Especially if a “harmless” infection also causes fever, an absolute ban on sports should be observed for about a week afterwards.

This can prevent acute consequences of myocarditis.Especially if a child still feels a little unwell after the infection has healed or if the parents still feel unfit, the symptoms of myocarditis should be closely monitored. Especially in children, the course of the disease is often quite mild, which is why complaints such as tiredness and reduced performance should not be ignored. Although myocarditis in children is often harmless, the disease can become chronic and thus limit the children’s activities in the long term. If a child suffers from a more severe form of heart muscle inflammation, no sport should be taken for a period of about six weeks to 3 months. After the most severe courses, competitive sports are forbidden in the long term, as later (sometimes life-threatening) complications cannot be ruled out.

Therapy

If myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) has been diagnosed, action must be taken quickly. First of all, the underlying disease that led to the myocarditis should be treated with medication. In most cases, treatment with penicillin or another antibiotic is initiated intravenously.

The patient must be admitted to hospital for this purpose. If it was possible to classify the pathogen causing the infection, in most cases an antibiogram can be taken and the basic infection treated. If a virus can be suspected as the cause, it may become necessary to initiate a so-called drug-based antiviral therapy (e.g. with interferon).

If autoantibodies can be detected, the increased activity of the immune system must first be suppressed. This is usually done by the administration of cortisone. The general principles of treatment are physical protection, administration of blood-thinning medication (anticoagulation) if there are signs of cardiomyopathy and treatment of any cardiac insufficiency that may have developed.

Various homeopathic remedies can be used in case of myocarditis. Gelsemium sempervirens is mainly used against the causative infection. Crataegus and Cactus are remedies that help against heart problems.

Iberis amara and Kalmia can be taken especially for inflammation of the heart muscle. Homeopathic remedies may interact with other medicines. Therefore, the attending physician should not only be informed about the use of other medicines, but also about the use of homeopathically active substances.

Myocarditis is a life-threatening disease that cannot be treated with homeopathic remedies alone. Therefore a doctor should be consulted in any case and his therapy should be carried out. Nevertheless, some symptoms can be alleviated by additional home remedies.

First and foremost, it is important to strengthen the heart, so those affected should consciously follow a diet. Furthermore, tobacco and alcohol consumption are very harmful. In order to avoid consequential damage, sport should be avoided. Stress reduction through yoga, meditation or massages can have a beneficial effect on the heart. In addition, household remedies are suitable which help against the triggering infection.