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Churg-Strauss Syndrome Center - Erie, PA

Erie Pulmonologist Doctors for Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Type of Physician: Pulmonologist

What is a Pulmonologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on diseases of the lungs and airways. The pulmonologist diagnoses and treats pneumonia, cancer, asthma, occupational diseases, sleep disorders, emphysema, and other complex disorders of the lungs. Pulmonologists evaluate lung function, examine the bronchial airways, and prescribe and monitor mechanical ventilation. Many pulmonary disease experts are also expert in critical care.

Specialty: Pulmonary Disease

Common Name: Lung Doctor

Pulmonologist Doctors in Erie *

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Kenneth D Chinsky
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Stephen Kovacs
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Jeffrey P McGovern
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Joseph E Rowane
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
John T Schaaf
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Chest Diseases of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Thomas A Wittmann
3580 Peach St
STE 103
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4755

Gary Esper DO
Gary Esper
4002 Schaper Ave
STE B
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 464-9145

Asthma Lung & Sleep Specialists PC
Amgad Abdu
3140 State Route 257
Seneca, PA 16346
(814) 678-6408

Better Breathing Center
James J Marcin
752 Brookshire Dr
STE STE 3
Hermitage, PA 16148
(724) 347-5864

Better Breathing Center
Michael A Panariello
752 Brookshire Dr
STE STE 3
Hermitage, PA 16148
(724) 347-5864

Associates in Respiratory Medicine
Frederic A Acevedo
389 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 282-2216

Associates in Respiratory Medicine
Paul C Fiehler
389 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 282-2216

Associates in Respiratory Medicine
Mario T Kinsella
389 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 282-2216

Associates in Respiratory Medicine
Lewis R Kline
389 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 282-2216

Associates in Respiratory Medicine
Edwin J Rao
389 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 282-2216

Ratnakar S Shetty MD
Ratnakar S Shetty
1307 6th Ave
New Brighton, PA 15066
(724) 847-2870

Pulmonary Partners Ltd
David Rice
3 St. Francis Wy
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
(724) 742-1600

Erie, Pennsylvania

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Churg-Strauss Syndrome

What is Churg-Strauss syndrome?

Churg-Strauss syndrome is one of many forms of vasculitis. Vasculitis diseases are characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. Churg-Strauss syndrome, in particular, occurs in patients with a history of asthma or allergy and features inflammation of blood vessels (also referred to as angiitis) in the lungs, skin, nerves, and abdomen. The blood vessels involved in Churg-Strauss syndrome are small arteries and veins.

What causes Churg-Strauss syndrome?

Churg-Strauss syndrome is rare. The cause of the syndrome is not known, but it involves an abnormal over-activation of the immune system in a person with underlying bronchospastic lung disease (asthma). While Churg-Strauss syndrome has been reported to be associated with certain asthma medications, called leukotriene modifiers, whether they actually cause the disease or whether the patients that take them have more severe asthma that lends a tendency toward the development of Churg-Strauss is not yet clear.

What are symptoms of Churg-Strauss syndrome?

Churg-Strauss syndrome causes fever, weight loss, and sinus or nasal passage inflammation in the patient with asthma. Fatigue is common. Sometimes the asthma actually improves somewhat as the disease intensifies elsewhere. Cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain can occur as the lungs are affected by vasculitis.

Skin lumps, called nodules, can appear on the extremities. Diarrhea and pain in the belly occur due to blood vessel inflammation within the abdomen. The bladder and prostate gland can become inflamed.

Numbness or weakness of the extremities is the result of nerve injury from the vasculitis. If the brain is affected, seizures or confusion can occur.

How is Churg-Strauss syndrome diagnosed?

Churg-Strauss syndrome is suggested when the symptoms described above occur ...

Recommended Reading Related to Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Chest X-ray »

What is a chest X-ray?

A chest X-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. An X-ray film is positioned against the body opposite the camera, which sends out a very small dose of a radiation beam. As the radiation penetrates the body, it is absorbed in varying amounts by different body tissues depending on the tissue's composition of air, water, blood, bone, or muscle. Bones, for example, absorb much of the X-ray radiation while lung tissue (which is filled with mostly air) absorbs very little, allowing most of the X-ray beam to pass through the lung.

What is a shadow on a chest X-ray?

Due to the differences in their composition (and, therefore, varying degrees of penetration of the X-ray beam), the lungs, heart, aorta, and bones of the chest each can be distinctly visualized on the chest X-ray. The X-ray film reco...

Emergency Contact for Erie

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Erie Hospitals *

Hamot Medical Center
201 State St
Erie, PA 16550
(814)877-6000

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Erie
143 E 2nd St
Erie, PA 16507
(814)878-1200

Select Specialty Hospital Erie
252 W 11th St
Erie, PA 16501
(814)874-5301

Saint Vincent Health Center
232 W 25th St
Erie, PA 16544
(814)452-5000

Erie VA Medical Center
135 E 38 St
Erie, PA 16504
(814)868-8661

Shriners Hospital for Children Erie
1645 W 8th St
Erie, PA 16505
(814)875-8700

Millcreek Community Hospital
5515 Peach St
Erie, PA 16509
(814)864-4031

Corry Memorial Hospital
612 W Smith St
Corry, PA 16407
(814)664-4641

University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center
158 W Main Rd
Conneaut, OH 44030
(440)593-1131

Westfield Memorial Hospital
189 E Main St
Westfield, NY 14787
(716)326-4921

Meadville Medical Center
751 Liberty St
Meadville, PA 16335
(814)333-5000

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