Healthy Lifestyle Guide

Duration

The symptoms of acute endocarditis usually begin suddenly and quickly worsen. It is an infection that may develop excessively in a few days. Subacute endocarditis develops more slowly and milder symptoms may be present for weeks or months before the disease is suspected.

Prevention

If you have more risk of endocarditis due to a damaged heart valve or other medical problem, tell your doctor or dentist. To prevent endocarditis, your doctor or dentist may prescribe antibiotics before any dental or medical intervention in which bacteria may enter the bloodstream. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for patients with artificial valves, people who have had endocarditis in the past and people with other high-risk conditions. People with mitral valve prolapse and several other minor illnesses may not need antibiotics.

In general, antibiotics are prescribed one to two hours before a high-risk intervention and up to eight hours later. Before a dental intervention can also use an antiseptic mouthwash, especially one containing chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine solution.

You can help prevent endocarditis by avoiding intravenous drugs.

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