Clinical presentation of infective endocarditis.

Despite the decline in rheumatic heart disease worldwide and the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, there is no evidence that the incidence of infective endocarditis is decreasing. In fact, some data suggest it may be increasing. The classical fever of unknown origin presentation represents a minority of infective endocarditis cases today; thus, clinicians need to be vigilant about keeping infective endocarditis in mind with some of these more unusual presentations. This article focuses on the various presentations of infective endocarditis, which are organized into three groups of presenting symptoms and signs: nonspecific, cardiac, and embolic.