PLEURITIS

SYMPTOMS

The following are some of the symptoms:

• Cough 
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Furthermore, pleural effusion, atelectasis, or empyema may accompany pleurisy:

• Empyema. The extra fluid might become infectious, resulting in a pus accumulation.

• Pleuritis effusion.Fluid accumulates in the tiny area between the two layers of tissue in some cases of pleurisy. Pleuritic discomfort decreases or vanishes when there is enough fluid.
• Atelectasis. A large amount of fluid in the pleural space might generate pressure, which can cause your lung to partially or entirely collapse (atelectasis). 

DIAGNOSIS

The doctor will begin the physical examination by asking you questions about your medical history. Also, to clarify if you have pleuritis, the doctor may recommend:

• Chest X-ray. An X-ray of your chest can reveal if your lungs are fully inflated or whether there is air or fluid between your lungs and ribs.

• Blood test. A test using your blood.

• Ultrasound. Your doctor may use ultrasound to detect if you have a pleural effusion.

• Computerized tomography. A CT scan utilizes computer processing to produce cross-sectional pictures that appear like slices of your chest from a sequence of X-ray images collected from various angles around your body.
• Electrocardiogram.This heart-monitoring test may be suggested by your doctor to exclude certain cardiac problems as a cause of your chest pain.

TREATMENT

Pleurisy is treated by focusing on the underlying cause. If the problem is caused by bacterial pneumonia, an antibiotic will be suggested to tend the infection.

Furthermore, pleurisy may settle on its own if the cause is viral. Also, the severity of the underlying illness determines the result of pleurisy therapy. A complete recovery is common if the disease that caused the pleurisy is recognized and if treated early.