Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a condition where the lining around your lungs becomes inflamed. This lining, called the pleura, is a thin, smooth membrane that separates your lungs from your chest wall. Imagine two smooth sheets of plastic, one wrapped around your lungs and the other lining your chest cavity. Normally, a tiny amount of fluid sits between these sheets, allowing them to slide easily against each other as you breathe.

When you have pleurisy, this lining becomes irritated and swollen. This swelling causes the two layers of the pleura to rub together. This rubbing action is like sandpaper, creating a sharp, stabbing pain in your chest. This pain, often called pleuritic pain, is usually worse when you breathe deeply or cough. It might feel better when you hold your breath.

The cause of pleurisy can vary. Possible causes include viral infections, bacterial infections, pneumonia, or even certain cancers. Treating the underlying cause is often part of the solution.

Treatment focuses on managing the pain and addressing the cause. Pain relievers, like over-the-counter medications, can help with the discomfort. Your doctor will likely want to figure out what's causing the inflammation. If a bacterial infection is present, antibiotics may be necessary. If a viral infection is the culprit, the body often heals on its own.

In short, pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, causing chest pain that's often worse with breathing. Treatment aims to relieve the pain and address the underlying reason for the inflammation.

Pleurisy is a condition that causes chest pain, often made worse by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. You might also feel short of breath, especially when trying to take deep breaths. Sometimes, pleurisy causes a cough, and sometimes it causes a fever. The pain can be worse when you move your upper body and might spread to your shoulders or back.

Pleurisy can be linked to other problems in the lining around your lungs (pleura). Here's how:

• Pleural Effusion: Sometimes, fluid builds up in the space between the two layers of tissue that make up the pleura. This is called a pleural effusion. If there's a lot of fluid, the pain from pleurisy might lessen or go away because the layers aren't rubbing against each other anymore.

• Atelectasis: A large amount of fluid can put pressure on your lung, potentially causing it to collapse partially or completely. This is called atelectasis. A collapsed lung makes it hard to breathe and can cause coughing.

• Empyema: The fluid in the pleural space can sometimes become infected, creating a buildup of pus. This is called empyema. A fever is often a symptom of empyema.

If you have sudden, severe chest pain that's linked to breathing, seek immediate medical attention. This could be a sign of a problem with your lungs, heart, or the lining around your lungs (pleura), or another serious underlying condition that needs prompt treatment.

If you have sudden, very strong chest pain while breathing, contact your doctor or get emergency help immediately. This could be a sign of a problem with your lungs, heart, or the lining around your lungs (called the pleura). It could also mean you have an illness that needs quick medical attention.

Pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining around the lungs, can have several causes. It's often linked to infections. For example, a viral infection like the flu (influenza) can sometimes lead to pleurisy. Similarly, bacterial infections, like pneumonia, can also trigger it. Fungal infections can also be a factor.

Beyond infections, other conditions can cause pleurisy. Autoimmune diseases, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, can sometimes cause this inflammation. If lung cancer develops near the lining of the lungs, it can also irritate the area, resulting in pleurisy.

Blood clots in the lungs, called pulmonary embolisms, can also cause pleurisy. Tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection, can also lead to this condition. Injuries, such as fractured ribs or other trauma to the chest, can also irritate the lining and cause pleurisy.

Finally, some inherited diseases, like sickle cell disease, and certain medicines or recreational drugs can also be associated with pleurisy. The specific cause of pleurisy in a given person is something a doctor will need to determine through a thorough examination and possibly tests.

Pleurisy is more likely to happen if you have certain infections, like the flu or pneumonia. Having medical conditions like lupus, tuberculosis (TB), or sickle cell disease can also make you more vulnerable to pleurisy. Using certain medications or recreational drugs can also increase the chance of developing pleurisy. In short, several things can make you more susceptible to pleurisy.

Your doctor will likely start by asking about your health history and doing a physical exam, including listening to your chest with a stethoscope. This helps them understand what's going on.

To figure out if you have pleurisy (inflammation of the lining around your lungs) and find out the cause, your doctor might recommend some tests:

• Blood tests: These tests can check for infections. They can also look for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, which sometimes cause pleurisy. Pleurisy can be an early sign of these conditions.

• Chest X-ray: An X-ray of your chest shows if your lungs are filling up properly. It can also reveal if there's air or fluid between your lungs and ribs.

• CT scan: A CT scan uses X-rays from many angles to create detailed images of slices through your chest. These detailed pictures can show the condition of the lining around your lungs. They can also show other possible causes of pain, such as a blood clot in the lung.

• Ultrasound: This uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your body. An ultrasound can help determine if there's fluid buildup around your lungs (pleural effusion).

• ECG (Electrocardiogram): This test checks your heart's electrical activity. It can help rule out heart problems as the cause of your chest pain.

Sometimes, your doctor might need to take a sample of fluid or tissue from the space around your lungs for testing. Here are some possible procedures:

• Thoracentesis: In this procedure, a local anesthetic (numbs the area) is used near your ribs where fluid is located. Then a needle is carefully inserted between your ribs to remove the fluid. This can make breathing easier. Ultrasound guidance is often used to help position the needle precisely.

• Thoracoscopy (or pleuroscopy): If your doctor suspects tuberculosis (TB) or cancer, they might do a thoracoscopy. A small camera (thoracoscope) is put through a small cut in your chest wall. This lets the doctor see inside your chest directly to look for problems and take a small tissue sample (biopsy). This allows a closer look at the area.

Pleurisy treatment mainly addresses the reason why it happened. For instance, if pneumonia (a lung infection) is the cause, antibiotics will be given to fight the infection. If a virus is causing the pleurisy, it often clears up on its own.

The pain and swelling from pleurisy are typically treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen. Sometimes, a doctor might suggest steroid medication.

How well pleurisy is treated depends on how serious the original problem was. Catching and treating the underlying illness quickly helps you recover. The outcome can vary, but you may fully recover depending on the cause and the nature of the illness.