Endocarditis - children

Endocarditis occurs when germs enter the bloodstream and then travel to the heart.

• Bacterial infection is the most common cause
• Fungal infections are much more rare
• In some cases, no germs can be found after testing

Endocarditis can involve the heart muscle, heart valves, or lining of the heart. Children with endocarditis may have an underlying condition such as:

• Birth defect of the heart (congenital heart disease)
• Damaged or abnormal heart valve
• New heart valve after surgery

The risk is higher in children who have a history of heart surgery, which can leave rough areas in the lining of the heart chambers.

This makes it easier for bacteria to stick to the lining.

Germs may enter the bloodstream:

• By way of a central venous access line that is in place
• During dental surgery
• During other surgeries or minor procedures to the airways and lungs, urinary tract, infected skin, or bones and muscles
• Migration of bacteria from the bowel, mouth, or throat

Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly or suddenly.

Fever, chills, and sweating are frequent symptoms. These sometimes can:

• Be present for days before any other symptoms appear
• Come and go, or be more noticeable at nighttime

Other symptoms may include:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Trouble breathing
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite

Neurological problems, such as seizures and disturbed mental status

Signs of endocarditis can also include:

• Small bleeding areas under the nails (splinter hemorrhages)
• Red, painless skin spots on the palms and soles (Janeway lesions)
• Red, painful nodules in the pads of the fingers and toes (Osler nodes)
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of feet, legs, or abdomen

Your child's health care provider may perform transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to check for endocarditis in children age 10 years or younger. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may also be used, particularly in older children.

Other tests may include:

• Blood culture to help identify the bacteria or fungus that is causing the infection
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Treatment for endocarditis depends upon the:

• Cause of the infection
• Child's age
• Severity of the symptoms

Your child will need to be in the hospital to receive antibiotics through a vein (IV). Blood cultures and tests will help the provider choose the best antibiotic.

Your child will need long-term antibiotic therapy.

• Your child will need this therapy for 4 to 8 weeks to fully kill all the bacteria from the heart chambers and valves.
• Antibiotic treatments started in the hospital will need to be continued at home once your child is stable.

Surgery to replace an infected heart valve may be needed when:

• Antibiotics don't work to treat the infection
• The infection is breaking off in little pieces, resulting in strokes
• Your child develops heart failure as a result of damaged heart valves
• The heart valve is badly damaged

Getting treatment for endocarditis right away improves the chances of clearing the infection and preventing complications.

The possible complications of endocarditis in children are:

• Damage to the heart and heart valves
• Abscess in the heart muscle
• Infective clot in the coronary arteries
• Stroke, caused by small clots or pieces of the infection breaking off and traveling to the brain
• Spread of the infection to other parts of the body, such as the lungs

Contact your child's provider if you notice any of the following symptoms during or after treatment:

• Blood in urine
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Weight loss without a change in diet

The American Heart Association recommends preventive antibiotics for children at risk for endocarditis, such as those with:

• Certain corrected or uncorrected birth defects of the heart
• Heart transplant and valve problems
• Man-made (prosthetic) heart valves
• A past history of endocarditis

These children should receive antibiotics when they have:

• Dental procedures that are likely to cause bleeding
• Procedures involving the breathing tract, the urinary tract, or the digestive tract
• Procedures on skin infections and soft tissue infections

Valve infection - children; Staphylococcus aureus - endocarditis - children; Enterococcus - endocarditis- children; Streptococcus viridians - endocarditis - children; Candida - endocarditis - children; Bacterial endocarditis - children; Infective endocarditis - children; Congenital heart disease - endocarditis - children

Baltimore RS, Gewitz M, Baddour LM, et al; American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Infective endocarditis in childhood: 2015 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;132(15):1487-1515. PMID: 26373317 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26373317.

Christov G, Dixon G, Kostolny M. Infective endocarditis. In: Wernovsky G, Anderson RH, Kumar K, et al, eds. Anderson's Pediatric Cardiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 56.

Faherty E, Murray TS. Infective endocarditis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 486.

Kaplan SL, Vallejo JG. Infective endocarditis. In: Cherry JD, Kaplan SL, Harrison GJ, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, Williams JV, et al, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 26.

Updated by: Thomas S. Metkus, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.