Acute pericarditis
I. Problem/Condition. Acute pericarditis results from acute inflammation of the pericardium, which can be the result of an isolated event (i.e., viral infection) or part of a more generalized systemic disorder (i.e., systemic lupus erythematosus). It is differentiated from chronic pericarditis by the patient’s symptoms having been present for less than 3 months. II. Diagnostic…