Hello and welcome to HCM, Pericarditis is inflammation of pericardium. Pericardium is the covering of heart. Inflammation of pericardium occurs due to infections like tuberculosis, viruses; drugs especially chemotherapy and radiotherapy; some other systemic inflammatory condition like lupus arthritis, rhematoid arthritis; after heart attack; idiopathic etc. Most common cause of pericarditis is viral infection but the virus cannot be isolated on most of the occasions. On many occasions the cause for pericarditis cannot be found out so it is called idiopathic in those cases. Treatment of pericarditis includes pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. If there is collection of fluid between two layers of pericardium, peracardiocentesis is performed to drain the fluid. In case paracardiocentesis is not feasible a window is created in the pericardium to drain the fluid. Fusion of two layers of pericardium can occur as a late sequelae which leads to chronic pain. In such cases the outer layer of pericardium is stripped off to avoid the fusion of two layers. I suggest you to consult a cardiologist and cardiac surgeon for clinical assessment and further management of the condition. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri