Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, which surrounds the heart and can lead to chest pain. Myocarditis is also a type of swelling, but it is of the heart muscle itself. Both can contribute to chest pain, but even though they may appear the same, they are quite different. Chest pain associated with pericarditis occurs when the layers of the pericardium rub together. Pericarditis is an acute problem that typically does not last very long. If it does become chronic, prescribed treatment is medication – or on rare occasions surgery. Pericarditis vs Myocarditis As mentioned, both pericarditis and myocarditis involve inflammation; one is the surrounding membrane of the heart, and the other leads to inflammation of the heart. Both conditions can be caused by viral infections, but more often than not, doctors are unable to determine the exact cause of pericarditis. In myocarditis the infection may lead to changes in heart …