1. What is infective endocarditis? Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious heart infection caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and lingering in the heart. It was formerly known as subacute bacterial endocarditis or bacterial endocarditis (SBE). Children with heart problems may develop infective endocarditis as a result of bleeding caused by surgery or dental treatment. Usually, a child’s body is able to kill the bacteria that keep him from getting sick. But your child is susceptible to infective endocarditis if blood cannot pass smoothly through the heart or valves because of a heart problem. The disease occurs most often in children with complex cyanotic defects, shunts, and those with artificial heart valves. Although the chance of this infection is low, it is very serious and can cause damage to the heart or death if left untreated. 2. What are the causes of infective endocarditis? Bacteria enter the bloodstream and remain in the heart. Bacteria can sometimes enter the bloodstream after surgery or when bleeding is caused by cleaning teeth. 3.What are the clinical manifestations of infective endocarditis? (1) unexplained low fever of 37.5° to 38.5° for 5 to 7 days; (2) sweating; (3) loss of appetite; (4) muscle and joint pain, such as knee, shoulder or knuckle; (5) weight loss; (6) rash; (7) headache; (8) weakness. Infective endocarditis sometimes resembles the flu. If your child has these symptoms and they do not go away, he or she should be seen promptly by a pediatric specialist. 4. How does infective endocarditis affect the heart and body? Bacteria that enter the heart will grow and lead to the formation of large colonies that can harm heart tissue. In addition, these colonies can detach from the surface of the heart and move to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, potentially causing obstruction. 5. How is infective endocarditis diagnosed? Blood tests to check for bacteria. Your child may need several blood samples taken at different times; an echocardiogram can help your doctor confirm the diagnosis. 6. How is infective endocarditis treated? If your child has infective endocarditis, antibiotics may be needed for up to 6 weeks or longer. If the condition is more severe, surgery may be required. With early diagnosis and aggressive intervention, the prognosis for children with infective endocarditis is usually positive. If left untreated, this infection is likely to be fatal.