Information on Symptoms (e.g. heart murmurs)

Infective Endocarditis

Infective Endocarditis

Infective Endocarditis is a serious bacterial infection in the heart. This is more likely to occur when you have something wrong with the structure of your heart like a small hole or an unusual valve. The infection can get in your blood stream from a sore throat a cut on your skin or more simple things like brushing your teeth. This is why dental hygeine and avoiding tattoos or piercings which introduce infections are very important. It is important to realise just how serious (life threatening) infective endocarditis can become. The treatment is long requiring several weeks of high dose (intravenous) antibiotics.

Children's Heart Federation Leaflet

Click here to see the Children's Heart Federation leaflet on Infective Endocarditis or click here to go to the Children's Heart Federation website.