What causes Keshan disease? Four major points to note

Although Keshan disease is not a common disease, once it occurs, it spreads extremely quickly and has a certain relationship with the region, so it deserves everyone's attention. There are many different opinions on the cause of Keshan disease, and currently four of them are more concentrated. Different causes of Keshan disease require different combined treatments.

1. Acute Keshan disease can occur suddenly, or it can develop acutely based on a latent or chronic form. In the north, the acute type often occurs in winter, often due to cold, overwork, infection, overdrinking, overeating or childbirth. Onset is acute. Severe cases may present with cardiogenic shock, acute pulmonary edema and severe arrhythmias. Initially, patients often feel dizzy, have repeated nausea and vomiting, and then become irritable and restless.

2. Chronic Keshan disease has a slow onset and can also be transformed from acute, subacute or latent types. The main clinical manifestations are chronic congestive heart failure, with complaints of palpitations and shortness of breath, which worsen after fatigue, and may also be accompanied by oliguria, edema and ascites. Physical examination shows that the heart is significantly enlarged on both sides, with low heart sounds, mild to moderate systolic murmurs and diastolic gallops. In the late stage, there may be signs of right heart failure such as distended jugular veins, hepatomegaly, and lower limb edema. In severe cases, there may be symptoms such as chest and abdominal effusion, and cardiogenic cirrhosis. Arrhythmias are common, such as ventricular premature beats, tachycardia, conduction block, atrial fibrillation, etc.

3. The onset of subacute Keshan disease is not as sudden as that of acute Keshan disease. Most of the patients are young children. Most cases occur in spring and summer. Cardiogenic shock or congestive heart failure may also occur. The early symptoms include mental depression, cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, pale complexion and general edema. There may also be an enlarged heart, gallop rhythm, and hepatomegaly.

4. Latent Keshan disease is often asymptomatic and the patient can work or labor as usual, but is discovered during the census. This is a stable latent type. Those who have transformed from other types may have symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. The electrocardiogram may show ST-T changes, QT interval prolongation, and premature beats. Although the heart of latent patients is damaged, their cardiac function is well compensated and their heart is not enlarged or is slightly enlarged.

The above content has provided a detailed description of the causes and common symptoms of Keshan disease. For people with Keshan disease, when they find that they have the disease, they must pay attention to seeking medical treatment in time and start corresponding treatment for the disease.