What symptoms might a child with infective endocarditis present with?
A child with infective endocarditis may present with bacteremia, valvulitis, immunologic responses, and emboli. Valvulitis may result in changing cardiac auscultatory findings or the development of congestive heart failure, while extracardiac manifestations such as petechiae, hemorrhages, Roth's spots, Janeway lesions, Osler nodes, or splenomegaly are less common. Renal abnormalities such as glomerulonephritis or infarct may also occur. Emboli to the abdominal viscera, the brain, or the heart may cause ischemia, hemorrhage, or both, and in rare cases, central nervous system mycotic aneurysms may occur.