Endocarditis

How many times does your Cardiologist or nurse tell you that you need to look after your teeth?

Do you know why?                   

 

Bacterial endocarditis is a very serious infection that can occur in your heart.  It predominantly affects the heart valves but other sites can be affected within your heart.  You are more at risk if you have a congenital heart problem.  If you develop endocarditis it will mean being admitted to hospital and having antibiotics through a drip for many weeks.  It can make you feel very poorly, involves a long stay in hospital, you have an increased risk of having a stroke and other problems and may need further surgery if the infection causes damage inside your heart.

 

Some people have a low risk whilst others have a moderate or high risk.  Ask your Cardiologist or nurse what your risks are.  It really is worth looking after yourself and following the advice below to further reduce your risks.

 

The Government has recently produced new guidelines that say that antibiotics are no longer required prior to any dental treatment.  The new guidelines emphasise the importance of keeping your teeth and mouth healthy.  It suggests that this is probably more important in helping to reduce your risk of endocarditis.  However if you have a complex heart problem your heart doctor may still advise that you have antibiotics prior to any dental treatment.  If you are unsure please discuss this with your heart nurse or doctor so that you are very clear about how these guidelines relate to you.

 

Take a look at the new guidelines

 

What can I do to reduce my risk?

 

Make sure your dentist knows you have a heart problem

 

Check with your heart doctor whether you need to take antibiotics one hour before any dental treatment

•     Everyone needs to look after their teeth. If your heart doctor tells you that you are at risk of developing endocarditis then this is even more important. This is where most of the bugs that cause endocarditis come from.

•     Avoid biting your nails

•     If you have bad acne go to your GP and get treatment for it

•     Avoid body piercing – especially areas of the body that are hard to   keep clean like the belly button, mouth and other areas!

•    Avoid getting tattoo’s

•     Clean any superficial wounds carefully and thoroughly

 

How would I know if I had endocarditis?

 

This is difficult because the symptoms may be quite vague but might include

•    Unexplained tiredness

•    Weight loss and loss of appetite

•    Unusual pains

•    Rash

•    High temperature that may come and go - or you may not even develop a temperature at all

•    Generally feeling unwell but unable “to put your finger on it”

 

What should I do if I am worried?

  1. If you develop a temperature and your GP says he knows the reason why e.g. you have an infection in your throat - that is fine.
  2. If you develop a temperature and your GP seems unsure as to the cause and wants to start antibiotics then ask him to do a blood test called  a 'blood culture' test and other tests to get to the bottom of the cause BEFORE you start antibiotics.
  3. Talk to your nurse specialist if you are worried that you might have endocarditis.