What condition is typically characterized by a prior viral prodrome followed by heart failure symptoms?

The condition that is typically characterized by a prior viral prodrome followed by heart failure symptoms is myocarditis. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle usually triggered by a viral infection, such as those caused by viruses like Coxsackievirus, adenovirus, or parvovirus B19.

Patients often report a viral prodrome, which may include symptoms like fever, fatigue, or respiratory issues, prior to the onset of heart-related symptoms. This can manifest in the form of chest pain, shortness of breath, or signs of heart failure, as inflammation of the myocardium can impair the heart's ability to pump effectively.

In contrast, cardiomyopathy generally refers to diseases of the heart muscle itself, which may not always follow a viral infection. Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, results from a blockage of coronary arteries and does not typically follow a viral illness. Pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart, may also present with chest pain but does not typically follow a viral prodrome leading to heart failure symptoms in the same way myocarditis does.