Understanding endocarditis

      Can a visit to the dentist for a routine cleaning put you at risk for heart disease? The answer usually is no—unless you have a preexisting condition that may make you susceptible to endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart’s chambers and valves. In that case, dental work could allow bacteria to reach and infect the heart’s valves. Once inflamed, the valves may cling to surrounding tissue and become unable to act as the gatekeepers for normal blood flow through the heart.
      Damaged valves also can produce lesions that break off and travel through the bloodstream, where they can turn into potentially deadly embolisms.
      Symptoms of endocarditis include fever, chills and weight loss as well as various bumps and discolorations on the hands and feet. The condition is most often diagnosed with an echocardiogram and a blood test for the presence of bacteria.

Who’s at risk?
      Endocarditis is a common complication of rheumatic fever, a childhood disease caused by untreated streptococcal (“strep”) infection. For this reason, it’s important to have your doctor test for strep whenever your child has a sore throat, swollen glands or difficulty swallowing. Strep infections can be easily treated to prevent further complications.
      Other people at risk for endocarditis include those with congenital heart disease or artificial heart valves, as well as those with mitral valve prolapse.

Protect yourself
      Although most cases of endocarditis are effectively treated with antibiotics, there still is potential for complications. If you are at risk, you will most likely need to take antibiotics before having dental work or certain medical procedures. This preventive action can help kill any bacteria that enter the bloodstream, thus minimizing the risk of developing endocarditis. Ask your physician if taking an antibiotic before having dental work is right for you. Taking antibiotics for mitral valve prolapse isn’t always recommended now.