Infectious myocarditis

**Definition:** Infectious myocarditis (infectious inflammatory cardiomyopathy) is inflammation of the heart muscle generally in the presence of a dilated cardiomyopathy that results from exposure to discrete infectious external antigens such as a virus, bacteria or parasite.

**Exclusions:** - Myoendocarditis - Acute or subacute infectious endocarditis - Acute rheumatic myocarditis