title: Infections and dilated cardiomyopathy in Nigeria.
abstract: The relationship of infection to dilated cardiomyopathy is reviewed on the basis of 200 patients seen at University College Hospital, Ibadan. Evidence of infection with Toxoplasma and Coxsackie B viruses is presented. Clinically detectable myocarditis is rare in children, and the preponderance of dilated cardiomyopathy is in patients above the age of 30 years, possibly because there is a long latent period between the initial infection and the development of frank cardiomyopathy. This paper concluded that infections are probably the most important cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in Nigeria.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D009549:Nigeria; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000914:Antibodies, Viral