What are typical symptoms of viral myocarditis in children?

Viral myocarditis in children typically presents with systemic symptoms such as fever and lethargy, which are indicative of a viral infection affecting the heart. Following a viral infection, such as those caused by enteroviruses or adenoviruses, children may demonstrate these overall symptoms as the body responds to inflammation of the heart muscle. Lethargy often reflects the reduced energy levels and potential myocardial compromise due to inflammation, while fever indicates the body's response to the underlying viral infection.

Other options, while they could be seen in a variety of medical conditions, are not the hallmark signs of viral myocarditis. For instance, symptoms like chest pain and palpitations (choice A) could suggest cardiac involvement but are less common in the younger population compared to the systemic symptoms of fever and lethargy. Rash and joint pain (choice C) are more typical of conditions like viral infections with associated exanthems or rheumatic fever, not specifically myocarditis. Headache and dizziness (choice D) can occur in many illnesses, but they are not as closely associated with myocarditis when considering the most common presentations in children.

Thus, the presence of fever and lethargy aligns more closely with the typical clinical picture for children experiencing viral myocarditis