Myocarditis in Infancy with Inclusions Characteristic of Psittacosis

Recently, there has been an increased interest in myocarditis during infancy. Conlin and Mantz 1 reported 26 cases up to 1953. Saphir 2 states that since 1953 he has collected 29 cases in the American literature and 39 cases in the foreign literature. He reported an autopsy series of 5 cases in 1957 which were added to 11 cases already in his material up to 1952. The clinical findings are well described by several authors, including Rosenbaum 3 and Tedeschi. 4 There is usually a sudden onset of heart failure in a child under 2 years of age. Physical examination reveals marked tachycardia with an enlarged heart. Nonspecific electrocardiographic changes associated with cardiac hypertrophy and damage are described. Autopsy findings reveal an enlarged dilated heart with congested lungs. Inflammatory cells are found in the interstitial tissue of the myocardium separating muscle fibers which are necrotic. Saphir states that foci of