What is the medical term for the infection of the heart muscle?

Myocarditis is the medical term specifically used to describe the inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium), often caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or toxic agents. This condition can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, and heart failure due to the compromised ability of the heart to pump effectively. The focus on the heart muscle in the definition makes myocarditis distinct and specifically relevant to the question about infection.

Other related terms, such as cardiomyopathy, refer to diseases of the heart muscle that can result in heart dysfunction but do not specify inflammation or infection. Endocarditis involves inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, usually due to a bacterial infection but does not directly denote an infection of the heart muscle itself. Angina refers to chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, typically related to coronary artery disease, and is not an infection. Therefore, myocarditis is the most accurate choice in the context of an infection specifically targeting the heart muscle.