ABSTRACT
This study was performed in Children's Hospital of Damascus University during a period of 4 years from 1/1/1993. 270 patients with myocarditis aging up to five years were studied. The most common signs were tachypnea 88.9%, retraction 67.8%, feeding refusal and cyanosis 55.9%, diminished heart sounds 51.8%, tachycardia 48.1%, flattening of T wave and depressed ST segment 85.2%, cardiomegaly on X ray 74.8%, elevation of myocardial enzymes especially LDH 94.75%, the ratio of GOT/GPT was more than one in 83.2%. 84.5% of cases were younger than 1 year of age, and 61.1% were males. The rural cases were 49.6% in contrast to urban cases 32.2%, and in winter and summer seasons more than spring and autumn. The most frequent complication was dilated myocardiopathy [35.9%]. Generally the mortality rate was 48.8%; and 89.4% of this occurred in infants younger than 1 year of age, who mostly had a preceding upper risparatory tract infection. The treatment was symptomatic; it was noticed, that the mortality rate was little less in who received steroids 38.63% in comparison to those who haven't received it 40.14%. The use of captopril in treatment of heart failure associated with cardiomyoathy was effective in improvement of heart failure