Pleurisy: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment | Dr Gokhale

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Pleurisy also known as pleuritis refers to the
inflammation of the pleura the thin membranes
surrounding the lungs and lining the chest
cavity. When you have a swollen pleura, they rub
against each other as opposed to gliding
smoothly (in its normal state) when you breathe
and cause your lungs to swell. The pleura is
double-layered. The visceral pleura covers the
lungs surface while the parietal pleura line the
chest wall and diaphragm. The space between them
contains a small amount of lubricating fluid
which prevents friction.
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• What Causes Pleurisy?
• Several factors can contribute to the causes of
  pleurisy.
• Infection
• It could be a bacterial infection like pneumonia
  and tuberculosis which can lead To pleurisy as
  bacteria infect the lung tissue. Viral infections
  like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus
  (RSV) are also contributors. Fungal infections
  however are not common but are also possible

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Medical conditions Autoimmune disorders like
lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can set off
inflammation in the pleura as a systemic immune
response. A blood clot in the deep vein,
Pulmonary embolism can travel to your lungs,
reduce blood flow and also cause inflammation of
the lungs. Cancer is also another cause. Other
causes This includes a wide range of other
things like a side effect of a drug, chest
injury, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, chest surgery or
trauma, or pleural tumour.
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Symptom of Pleurisy The symptoms of pleurisy are
different depending on the cause or severity but
the common ones may include the following Chest
pain The pain is usually stabbing. Shortness of
breath This is a result of pain or fluid
accumulating in the pleura. Dry cough Persistent
dry cough, when you cough up nothing comes
out. Fever and chills This indicates an
infection is the likely cause of the
disease. Moving pain The pain could spread to
your back.
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Treatment of Pleurisy Address underlying
cause The doctors would first need to diagnose
the root cause of it after running a series of
tests. The treatment process can start after an
effective diagnosis. For example, if it is caused
by an infection, they may prescribe antibiotics
or antiviral medications. If it is a blood clot
that has travelled to your lungs, blood thinners
would be used to dissolve it. Symptom
Management The doctors could also consider
giving you Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to reduce the pain or
Corticosteroids. In cases where there is a lot of
fluid thoracentesis will be done to drain the
excess fluid.
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Other Factors to Note Diagnosis The doctors
would need to run several tests, imaging, blood
test, EKG, or thoracoscopy. If diagnosed, do not
engage in high-impact activities which can cause
heavy breathing or too much cough. Prevention
It is best to protect yourself against infections
like pneumonia and flu. In cases where you feel
any symptoms, consult your doctors immediately as
early treatment helps prevent complications. Life
style Changes It is best to take a lot of rest.
Avoid smoking. If you are given drugs, complete
them.
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Final Overview Pleurisy can be very painful.
Like almost every other condition, early
detection, proper diagnosis and treatment are
crucial to prevent complications. Through a
combination of managing underlying causes and
following preventive measures, you can reduce the
risk of developing pleurisy and have better
respiratory health. If you experience persistent
chest pain or any of the other symptoms do well
to seek medical advice immediately. If you are
looking for the best lung transplant surgeon in
India, be sure to connect with Dr. Gokhale.
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