II. Epidemiology

  1. Acute Viral Infection of skeletal Muscle
    1. Coxsackie Virus B or Echovirus most common
  2. Sporadic person to person transmission
  3. May occur in epidemics

III. Symptoms

  1. Viral Prodrome
  2. Sudden onset sharp stabbing, catching Chest Pain
  3. Paroxysmal episodes
    1. Lasts 2-10 hours
    2. May recur over a 3 week period
  4. Initial diaphoresis and severe Chest Pain
    1. Difficult to distinguish from Myocardial Infarction

IV. Signs

  1. Fever (over 38 degrees Celsius)
  2. Cutaneous Hyperesthesia over involved Muscles
  3. Pleural rub (rare)

V. Diagnosis

  1. Electrocardiogram normal
  2. Chest XRay normal
  3. Viral Cultures positive (throat or stool)

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