Pleurisy (cont.)
Can pleurisy be prevented?
Pleurisy can be prevented, depending
on its cause. For example, early intervention in treating pneumonia may prevent the accumulation of pleural
fluid. In the case of heart, lung, or kidney disease, management of the
underlying disease can help prevent the fluid collection.
- Pleurisy is inflammation of the tissue layers (pleura)
lining the lungs and inner chest wall.
- Pleurisy is often associated with the accumulation of
fluid between the two layers of pleura, known as pleural effusion.
- Pleurisy is caused by a variety of conditions, such as
infections, TB, congestive heart failure, cancer, pulmonary embolism, and
collagen vascular diseases.
- Symptoms of pleurisy include pain in the chest, which
is aggravated by breathing in, shortness of breath, and local tenderness.
- The diagnosis of pleurisy is made by the
characteristic chest pain and physical findings on examination of the chest.
The sometimes-associated pleural accumulation of fluid can be seen by imaging
studies (chest x-ray, ultrasound, or CT).
- Analysis of pleural fluid aspirated from the chest can
help determine the cause of the pleurisy.
- Treatment of the underlying conditions is key to the proper management of
pleurisy.
Previous contributing author and editor: Zab Mohsenifar,
MD and
William C.
Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2006
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Pneumonia - Learn pneumonia symptoms, causes, treatment, signs, diagnosis and types: viral and bacterial (Pneumocystis carinii, Klebsiella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumoniae).
- Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.
Latest Medical News
Lungs RSS