Headache
The majority of patients with endocarditis will also suffer from headaches. They have different causes, including the inflammatory process itself, which releases inflammatory mediators that reach the brain and the meninges. Other causes include a series of neurological consequences of endocarditis, including aseptic meningitis, an irritation of the outer linings of the brain that trigger pain. In some cases, it would be an actual infection in the meninges, usually triggered by pneumococci. Be careful with patients diagnosed with endocarditis if they have sudden and very severe headaches, because they may be a sign of a stroke.