[이데일리 이순용 기자] The difference between myocarditis and pericarditis is where the inflammation occurs. Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis refers to inflammation of the very thin membrane surrounding the heart. As the location of the occurrence is different, the symptoms are also different. Because myocarditis is an inflammation of the muscles, pain occurs regardless of posture changes. When the systolic function of the left or right ventricle is impaired, dyspnea and palpitations also appear. On the other hand, in the case of pericarditis, there is no myocardial damage, but pain occurs when the pericardium is stimulated. It usually occurs when breathing deeply, changing positions, or coughing.
Professor Park Ji-young of the Department of Cardiology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital said, “About 4.1 cases per million inoculations are vaccinated, and myocarditis and pericarditis can rarely occur. According to one study, both diseases can occur at the same time. It is characteristic that it occurs more frequently after the second vaccination in men, adolescents and young adults rather than women. Most of the cases occur within four days after vaccination, so for prevention, if you have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, you should avoid excessive physical activity such as running, soccer, and basketball for about a week.”
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◇ After vaccination, if there are any abnormal findings such as chest pain, examination is required After vaccination, if one or more symptoms of ▲chest pain/pressure/discomfort ▲shortness of breath ▲pain during breathing ▲palpitations ▲syncope are present, suspect myocarditis and seek medical attention. For myocarditis, it is necessary to check for damage to the heart muscle, so a blood test for troponin, a cardiac enzyme, is performed. If the troponin level is high and there is abnormal heart function through ECG and heart rate monitoring, myocarditis is diagnosed.
In the case of pericarditis, acute chest pain is a characteristic symptom. Pain that gets worse when lying down, breathing deeply, or coughing, and relieved when sitting or leaning forward is typical. If these symptoms develop after vaccination, you should see a doctor. Pericarditis is diagnosed when pericardial friction is heard when auscultation is heard, when there is water around the heart through echocardiography or MRI, or when there is an abnormality in the electrocardiogram.
◇ In most cases, improvement occurs within 1 to 2 weeks.
The key to treating pericarditis is pain control. Use anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as colchicine, to relieve pain. When inflammation is controlled, it usually improves in most cases within a week. Myocarditis is also a disease that usually improves within 1 to 2 weeks, but in rare cases, heart function deteriorates, so additional drug treatment is needed to preserve heart function.
Professor Park Ji-young said, “If you have chest pain, palpitations, or difficulty breathing after vaccination, myocarditis and pericarditis should be suspected. Most of the patients showed good response to treatment, and as they recover quickly, it is better to visit a hospital and seek professional treatment without inadvertently passing over the symptoms or putting up with it,” he advised.
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