Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

Pericardial effusion Myocarditis

March 1, 2013 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Hello, I am sending you the report. My son is going back to work today, the job is not physically demanding, but he has to move quickly because of the piece rate. Is that okay? And how serious is everything? How long will it take for him to fully recover?

Best regards

Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Good day, dear mother,

I cannot answer all questions for you, as the report does not provide information on:
1. how old your son is
2. When the ultrasound was done and how long he may have been off work due to illness.

However, according to the detailed report, the answer to the question "Is it serious?" is: No, as there is only minimal effusion, no involvement of the heart muscle, and everything is already improving.

Therefore, (with the above reservations) the answer to the question "Can he go back to work?" is: If it is only light work, your son does not need to take the recommended medication anymore, and has no complaints, then it is okay for him to return to work. If he experiences any symptoms, he can always report back, but it is not expected.

As for the question "How long does this last?" It is also difficult to answer, as the exact beginning is not known. Depending on the severity of the inflammation (in this case, only mild), myocarditis can last between 3-8 weeks, while pericarditis (which was the only thing visible) often lasts shorter, around 10-21 days.

I believe you can trust the cardiologist who performs these ultrasounds daily to accurately assess the timing of when your son can return to work. Based on the described findings, there is no indication of complications or a longer or more severe course to be expected.

I hope I could help you. With warm regards, R. Berg.