All issues > Volume 19(6); 1976

Symposium

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1976;19(6):386-396. Published online June 30, 1976.

Clinical Observation of Pericarditis in Children(31 Cases and Review of the Literature)

Tai Euk Kim¹, Eui Jung Lee¹, Ki Young Lee¹, Dong Shick Chin¹

¹Department of Pediatrics,Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul,Korea

Abstract

31 cases of pericarditis who were admitted to pediatric department, Ssverance Hospital from April 1958 to March 1975 (for 17 years) were studied clinically. They consisted of 28 cases with acute pericarditis and 3 cases with chronic constrictive pericarditis. The incidence of pericarditis among the admitted cases was 0.2% and both sexes were almost equally affected. Cases of acute pericarditis were most commonly of rheumatic origin (7 cases~22.6%), followed by idiopathic (6 cases), purulent (5 cases) and tuberculous (5 cases) in order of frequency. There was one acutecase of pericarditis caused by Paragonimus westermani and all cases of chronic pericarditis were tuberculous in origin. Pericarditis was most commonly found in children of 6 to 10 years of age (15 cases~48. 4%) and 1 to 6 years (8 cases), more than 10 years (7 cases) and under 1 year (1 case) in order of frequency. Duration of symptoms from onset to admission averaged 24 days (1 day~6 months) in cases of acute pericarditis and 13.7 months(6~20 months) in chronic forms. The most common findings on chest X-ray was enlarged cardiopericardial shadows (89.3%)and the next, decreased amplitude of cardiac pulsation (600 on the fluoroscopic examinations. T wave changes were the most common findings (61.9%) on E.C.G., followed by ST segment changes(42.9%) and low QRRS voltages(28.6%). 13 cases (41.9%) were treated with medical treatmentonly and 12 cases (38.7%) with combined medical therapy and pericardiocentesis. Of 31 cases, 5 cases(16.1%) died, and the causes of death were congestive heart failure in 3 cases and septicemia in 2 cases.

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