Endocarditis

[Ross]

Sorry, Pat. BE is bacterial endocarditis which is an infection on your heart valves. It occurs mostly in people who either have a damaged valve due to previous disease, such as rheumatic fever, or those who have had a valve replacement and/or repair. It's almost non-existent among "normal" people with the exception of IV drug users who share needles. It is a life-threatening illness.

Umm not true! If can affect anyone for any number of reasons. My oldest son had it a couple years back and it started as just a simple infection that could have been treated had he seen a doctor as soon as it started. He had no money or insurance and ended up in the ER with severe chest pain and having a hard time breathing. Good old BE is what it was.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Dumb questions - I looked on Ross's list but did not find BE. What is BE?

BE = Bacterial Endocarditis, a NASTY infection that can damage your Heart and / or Valves.

 

[Luana]

Umm not true! If can affect anyone for any number of reasons. My oldest son had it a couple years back and it started as just a simple infection that could have been treated had he seen a doctor as soon as it started. He had no money or insurance and ended up in the ER with severe chest pain and having a hard time breathing. Good old BE is what it was.

Well, that's a new one to me, Ross. On the AHA's site they say, "Endocarditis rarely occurs in people with normal hearts."

 

[Ross]

Well, that's a new one to me, Ross. On the AHA's site they say, "Endocarditis rarely occurs in people with normal hearts."

Key word "Rarely" but it does occur. I know someone else that got it for none of the reasons mentioned.