The most common pathogens are bacterial, although they may also be fungal. Any child with a heart condition can get endocarditis but it can occasionally affect normal valves.
Clinical features
- Fever
- Splenomegaly
- Petechiae
- new murmurs.
Investigations
- Full blood count
- Urinalysis
- Blood culture
- Electrocardiogram
- Echocardiography
Management
- Give penicillin 100,000–400,000U/kg/24 hour IV 4–6 hourly, and gentamicin 6–7.5mg/kg/24 hours.
- Monitor carefully for response.
- If patient is not improving, consider changing antibiotic after results of culture.
- Refer to specialist if:
- No or poor response to therapy.
- Patient deteriorates.