Pediatric MyocarditisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Pediatric Myocarditis
View Main Condition: Myocarditis
Pediatric myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle in an infant or young child.
Myocarditis is rare in young children. It is slightly more common in older children and adults. It is often worse in newborns and young infants than in children over age 2.
Most cases in children are caused by a virus that reaches the heart. These can include:
- Influenza (flu) virus
- Coxsackie virus
- Parovirus
- Adenovirus
- SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19)
It may also be caused by bacterial infections such as Lyme disease.
Other causes of pediatric myocarditis include:
- Allergic reactions to certain medicines
- Exposure to chemicals in the environment
- Infections due to fungus or parasites
- Radiation
- Some diseases (autoimmune disorders) that cause inflammation throughout the body
- Some medicines
Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination has been reported, but is very rare.
The heart muscle may be directly damaged by the virus or the bacteria that infect it. The body's immune response can also damage the heart muscle (called the myocardium) in the process of fighting the infection. This can lead to symptoms of heart failure.
Symptoms may be mild at first and hard to detect. Sometimes in newborns and infants, symptoms may appear suddenly.
Symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Faltering weight or poor weight gain
- Feeding difficulties
- Fever and other symptoms of infection
- Listlessness
- Low urine output (a sign of decreasing kidney function)
- Pale, cool hands and feet (a sign of poor circulation)
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid heart rate
Symptoms in children over age 2 may also include:
- Belly area pain and nausea
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling (edema) in the legs, feet, and face
There is no cure for myocarditis. The heart muscle inflammation will often go away on its own.
The goal of treatment is to support heart function until the inflammation goes away. Many children with this condition are admitted to a hospital. Activity often needs to be limited while the heart is inflamed because it can strain the heart.
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics to fight bacterial infection
- Anti-inflammatory medicines called steroids to control inflammation
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a medicine made of substances (called antibodies) that the body produces to fight infection, to control the inflammatory process
- Mechanical support using a machine to help the heart function (in extreme cases)
- Medicines to treat symptoms of heart failure
- Medicines to treat abnormal heart rhythms
Office
Joseph Rossano is a Pediatric Cardiologist practicing medicine in Philadelphia,, Pennsylvania. Dr. Rossano is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pediatric Myocarditis. He is also highly rated in 13 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pediatric Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Heart Transplant, and Spinal Fusion.
Le Bonheur Children's Outpatient Center
Jeffrey Towbin is a Pediatric Cardiologist practicing medicine in Memphis,, Tennessee. Dr. Towbin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pediatric Myocarditis. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Heart Transplant, and Cardiac Ablation.
Cleveland Clinic Children's Outpatient Center
Shahnawaz Amdani is a Pediatrics specialist and a Transplant Surgeon practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Amdani is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pediatric Myocarditis. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pediatric Myocarditis, Myocarditis, Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), Heart Failure, and Heart Transplant. Dr. Amdani is board certified in American Board Of Pediatrics, 2018.
Recovery from myocarditis depends on the cause of the problem and the child's overall health. Most children recover completely with proper treatment. However, some may have permanent heart disease.
Newborns have the highest risk for serious disease and complications (including death) due to myocarditis. In rare cases, severe damage to the heart muscle requires a heart transplant.
Complications may include:
- Enlargement of the heart that leads to reduced heart function (dilated cardiomyopathy)
- Heart failure
- Heart rhythm problems
Contact your child's provider if signs or symptoms of this condition occur.
There is no known prevention. However, prompt testing and treatment may reduce the disease risk.
Summary: The Enterovirus genus, belonging to the Picornaviridae family, consists of positively polarized single-stranded RNA viruses classified into the species Enterovirus (EV, comprising Coxsackievirus, Echovirus and Poliovirus) A-J and Rhinovirus (RV) A-C, of which more than 200 different genotypes have been described. Enteroviruses have a global spread and are a common cause of febrile, gastroenteric a...
Summary: The goal of this observational study is to determine the efficacy a of combined management and treatment driven by the systematic determination of viral genome, bacterial serology, and markers of inflammation in pediatric patients (\< 18 years old) diagnosed with myocarditis complicated by arrhythmias (supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias and heart block) or ventricular dysfunction (left ...
Published Date: January 02, 2026
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safety. www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/covid-19.html. Updated January 31, 2025. Accessed January 27, 2026.
Knowlton KU, Anderson JL, Savoia MC, Oxman MN. Myocarditis and pericarditis. In: Blaser MJ, Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 86.
Parent JJ, Ware SM. Diseases of the myocardium. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 488.
Vallejo JG. Myocarditis. In: Cherry JD, Kaplan SL, Harrison GJ, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, Williams JV, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 28.