Physical Examination
A thorough physical examination may reveal signs of cardiac dysfunction, or in severe cases, cardiac failure or cardiogenic shock.
The table below summarises the symptoms and physical signs associated with myocarditis of differing aetiologies.
| Aetiology | Clinical symptoms | Physical signs |
| Features of viral illness | Myalgia, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting | Fever, tachycardia |
| Myopericarditis | Chest pain, breathlessness | Pericardial rub, signs of tamponade |
| Myocardial dysfunction | Chest pain, breathlessness, collapse, orthopnea, oedema | Tachypnoea, tachycardia, gallop rhythm, raised JVP, pulmonary oedema, low blood pressure and cardiogenic shock |
| Arrhythmias | Palpitations, breathlessness, syncope | Abnormal pulse rate, rhythm, signs of cardiac failure |