What condition is described as inflammation of the pericardium?

The condition described as inflammation of the pericardium is pericarditis. The pericardium is a double-walled sac containing the heart and forming its outermost layer. Inflammation of this structure can result from various causes, including infections, autoimmune disorders, and as a post-surgical complication or following a heart attack. Symptoms often include sharp chest pain, which may worsen with deep breathing or lying down, as well as fever and a pericardial friction rub, which can be heard upon auscultation.

Understanding the specific conditions helps differentiate them clearly; for example, myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium (heart muscle), pleuritis involves the inflammation of the pleura (the lining around the lungs), and endocarditis refers to inflammation of the endocardium (the inner lining of the heart). Each of these conditions has different etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations, but it is pericarditis that specifically pertains to inflammation of the pericardium.