Infections and dilated cardiomyopathy in Nigeria

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Abstract
Summary The relationship of infection to dilated cardiomyopathy is reviewed on the basis of 200 patients seen at University College Hospital, Ibadan. Evidence of infection withToxoplasma and Coxsackie B viruses is presented. Clinically detectable myocarditis is rare in children, and the preponderance of dilated cardiomyopathy is in patients above the age of 30 years, possibly because there is a long latent period between the initial infection and the development of frank cardiomyopathy. This paper concluded that infections are probably the most important cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in Nigeria.