Today, Dr. Rahul Damania, Dr. Pradip Kamat, and Dr. Monica Gray, pediatric intensivists, sit down to chat about the diagnosis and management of acute myocarditis in children. They focus on a real-life case involving a one-month-old infant who presented with poor feeding, respiratory distress, and fever. Together, they break down the possible causes, key clinical signs, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options for pediatric myocarditis. Throughout the discussion, they highlight the importance of early recognition, a multidisciplinary team approach, and supportive care in improving outcomes for these critically ill infants. This episode is packed with practical insights and is designed to help pediatric intensivists tackle this challenging and potentially life-threatening condition. Tune in to hear more!

Show Highlights:

• Definition and etiology of acute myocarditis in pediatric patients
• Clinical case presentation of a one-month-old infant with acute myocarditis
• Symptoms and clinical manifestations of acute myocarditis in children
• Diagnostic approaches for identifying acute myocarditis, including echocardiography and laboratory tests
• Management strategies for acute myocarditis, including intensive care and medication
• Importance of recognizing atypical presentations in infants
• Prognosis and risk factors associated with acute myocarditis
• Role of multidisciplinary collaboration in managing acute myocarditis
• Impact of viral infections on the development and severity of myocarditis
• Outcomes and potential complications related to acute myocarditis in pediatric patients

References:

• Fuhrman & Zimmerman - Textbook of Pediatric Critical Care Chapter 108. Life-threatening viral diseases and their treatment. Vora S et al. Pages 1273-1278
• Rogers’ textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care. Chapter 74: cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and mechanical circulatory support. Harmon WG et al. Pages 1247-1255
• Robinson J, Hartling L, Vandermeer B, Sebastianski M, Klassen TP. Intravenous immunoglobulin for presumed viral myocarditis in children and adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Aug 19;8(8): CD004370. Doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004370.pub4. PMID: 32835416