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Key Points
- Pleurisy is inflammation (swelling) of the
pleura. The pleura is a large, thin sheet of tissue (membrane) that wraps
around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity.
- Pleurisy occurs when the two layers of the pleura
become red and inflamed. Then they rub against each other every time your lungs
expand to breathe air in.
- Other disorders of the pleura include pleural
effusion (buildup of fluid in the pleural space), pneumothorax (buildup of air
or gas in the pleural space), and hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural
space).
- Many different conditions can cause pleurisy.
Viral infection is the most common cause. The most common cause of pleural
effusion is
congestive
heart failure. Lung diseases, like
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and acute lung
injury, cause pneumothorax. Injury to the chest is the most common cause of
hemothorax.
- The main symptom of pleurisy is a sharp or
stabbing pain in your chest that gets worse when you breathe in deeply or cough
or sneeze. Pleural effusion often has no symptoms. Pneumothorax and hemothorax
have similar symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid
heart rate.
- Your doctor will find out if you have pleurisy or
another pleural disorder by taking a detailed medical history and doing a
physical exam and several tests.
- Treatment for pleurisy is designed to remove the
fluid, air, or blood from the pleural space, relieve symptoms, and treat the
underlying condition.
- If the condition that caused pleurisy isn't too
serious and is diagnosed and treated early, you can expect a full
recovery.
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Treatments
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