title: Clinical aspects of nonrheumatic myocarditis in children.
abstract: Sixty-eight patients of clinically diagnosed myocarditis, 0--15 years of age, were followed up and analyzed. Forty (58.8%) were males. The majority were older than 5 years. Clinical courses were rather mild, chronic and self-limiting at large. Only 1 case had a relation to chronic cariomyopathy. Exertional symptoms (chest pain, chest distress, syncope) were seen in 25 (36.8%). ECG changes were very common: the majority were nonspecific ST elevation, depression or both, mainly in leads II, III, V5 and V6. Positive Master' test, prolonged QTc, widened mean spatial QRS-T angle and various arrhythmias were also observed. Cardiac performance, estimated by echocardiogram and phono-mechanocardiogram was lowered in 41 (60.3%). Large IV sound and large A wave in apexcardiogram were also frequently found. All but 3 patients showed continuous elevation of serum enzymes, namely, LDH, LDH-1/LDH-2, CPK, CPK-MB, HBD and GOT. Etiological evidences were obtained by serological study in 11 cases (16.2%): 2 of Coxsackie B-1, 3 of Coxsackie B-2, 1 of Coxsackie B-4, 2 of mycoplasma pneumoniae, 1 of cytomegalovirus, 1 of ECHO-7 and 1 of rubella. We proposed a criteria for diagnosis of myocarditis as follows: (1) Exertional symptoms. (2) ECG findings. (3) Serum enzyme abnormality. (4) Lowered cardiac performance. (5) Cardiomegaly. (6) Changing character of all signs and symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D003402:Creatine Kinase