Carditis is an inflammation of the heart. The heart muscle, valves and pericardium are involved. The signs of carditis are:

• A heart murmur due to inflammation or damage to one or more heart valves
• Tachycardia, especially when resting or asleep. Signs of heart failure may develop (e.g. shortness of breath).
• An enlarged heart seen on chest X-ray
• A rubbing noise (friction rub) heard on auscultation, which indicates an inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis)