Acute pericarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in young infants and children: three case reports and a literature review.
We present three cases of pericarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae diagnosed in children. The presenting symptoms were fever, dyspnea, tachycardia, and hepatomegaly. Chest X-rays showed an enlarged heart silhouette and echocardiographic examination revealed a pericardial effusion in all cases. S. pneumoniae was recovered from the pericardial fluid and/or blood in all cases. Systemic antibiotic treatment and dopaminergic agents were used; all patients recovered completely. Another 10 cases of S. pneumoniae pericarditis in children reported since 1980 are presented. Most cases had preceding respiratory symptoms and had a good outcome. While rare and life-threatening, pericarditis caused by S. pneumoniae has a good outcome if diagnosed early and treated adequately.
Feinstein
Yael
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Falup-Pecurariu
Oana
O
Mitrică
Maria
M
Berezin
Eitan N
EN
Sini
Rodrigo
R
Krimko
Hana
H
Greenberg
David
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents