Even myocarditis caused by infections isn't limited to viral infections—fungi, parasites, and bacteria can all infect the myocardium. However, viral myocarditis is the most common clinical presentation, leading to the older doctors coining the term "viral myocarditis" as a standard catchphrase.
When clinicians discuss myocarditis, the conversation almost always revolves around viral myocarditis because nine out of ten patients have a viral infection.
Like myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy can be caused by immune factors or viral infections. Specifically, enteroviruses and cytomegaloviruses detected via myocardial biopsy have been proven to have a direct association with dilated cardiomyopathy. Interestingly enough, these same viruses are also implicated in myocarditis.
