Aid Michael's Recovery from Heart Inflammation

Hello, my 20-year-old nephew, Michael Davis, has just been diagnosed with Carditis due to Lyme disease. Carditis is the general term for inflammation of the heart. It can affect different parts of the heart, including the pericardium (outer layer), myocardium (muscle), and endocardium (inner lining). These individual types of inflammation are called pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis, respectively.

More details:

Carditis Definition: Carditis is a broad term for inflammation of the heart, which can involve one or more of its layers.

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.

Myocarditis: Inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular tissue of the heart.

Endocarditis: Inflammation of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart, including the heart valves.

Pancarditis: Refers to inflammation of all three layers of the heart (pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium).

Causes: Carditis can be caused by various factors, including infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal), autoimmune diseases, and certain medications.

Symptoms: Symptoms can vary depending on the affected area and the severity of inflammation, but may include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fever.

Treatment: Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may involve medications (like antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or antiviral drugs), and in some cases, supportive care like pacing or even a heart transplant. He has no health insurance. He's in UPMC Presbyterian; he was admitted Sunday, June 22, after a night stay at Trinity. He may be released tomorrow. However, he will need a home nurse and antibiotics weekly; the cost will be $270 weekly. He may only need it for 1 month. He might also need a pacemaker. We just have to wait and see how he responds to the antibiotics. I know we all have our own money problems, especially with the way the world is. If you have an extra $5 and could donate, it would be much appreciated. If you can't, please share. Thanks for your time and kindness. Louann