Pleurisy Research
When bacteria or viruses irritate the pleura to cause inflammation it creates a condition of pleurisy. This results in pleural effusion if liquids form in the pleura or if liquids do not form it is called dry pleurisy. The first symptom of pleurisy is an unexpected sudden pain in the chest. There is usually no pain unless the person takes a deep breath or moves the upper body but there are few positions the person can have without the pain. At times the pain can be sharp and severe. A person may have shallow breathing in an effort to eliminate the pain from deep breathing. The infection is in the chest wall and the site of the pain is usually in the exact spot of the infection. Diagnosis of the condition is simple because of the unusual type of pain that is characteristic of pleurisy.
There are many causes for pleurisy and when the doctor determines the cause the treatment is often with antibiotics. For pain relief the doctor may give non-steroidal drugs or if it is severe pain it may require narcotics. Wrapping the chest with dry bandages is a big help for pain relief because it eliminates chest movement. It is difficult for a person to get adequate sleep with pleurisy because it is a problem to position the body in a comfortable position free of pain.
Pleural effusion is when the pleura accumulates liquids. The causes are numerous but the most common are heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and pneumonia. Pleural effusion does not cause the pain of pleurisy and many people have no symptoms, but the most common symptoms are breathing difficulties and chest pain. Diagnosis is difficult and usually requires an examination of the fluid. Small pleural effusion may require only treatment of the underlying condition. When larger amounts of liquid have accumulated, the doctor who has various options on the procedure for removal must remove the liquid. After the removal of fluid the underlying cause is treated.
