Final answer:
Acute pericarditis is determined by at least 2 of 4 clinical criteria, involving symptoms like chest pain and difficulty breathing, and is diagnosed with imaging and microbiological tools. It can be caused by a variety of pathogens, and if infection is present, may be treated with antibacterial medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute pericarditis is diagnosed clinically by the presence of at least 2 of 4 criteria. These criteria generally include symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a dry cough.
Other diagnostic tools, such as chest radiographs, electrocardiograms (ECG), and echocardiograms, are used to visualize the structure and function of the heart, and possibly the collection of pericardial fluid or pericardial biopsy.
Acute pericarditis can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria like Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., viruses (e.g., echovirus, influenza virus), fungi (e.g., Histoplasma spp., Coccidioides spp.), and parasites (e.g., Toxoplasma spp.).
While often self-limiting, in cases where infection is present, antibacterial medications may be needed.
Below is the complete question:
Acute pericarditis is diagnosed clinically by the presence of at least 2 of 4 criteria. What are the criterias?