EFFECTS OF PLEURISY HOW IS PLEURISY TREATED? When dry pleurisy heals, it leaves strands The inflammation of pleurisy is treated of fibrous tissue (adhesions) strung by attacking the infection that may have between the lung and the wall of the caused it. A pleurisy caused by some chest, tying them together. Sometimes lung disease is treated, first of all, by these adhesions are so extensive that identifying the underlying disease and they limit the movement of the lungs. But giving whatever treatment is available for usually the soreness disappears and the it. P LEURISY adhesions stretch so much that they no longer cause any difficulty. To limit the pain of pleurisy, limiting the movements of the lungs may be In wet pleurisy, the fluid builds up in the desirable. The health professional may pleural cavity. There may be enough to suggest lying on the sore side, in a restrict the movement of the lungs and special way - for example, on a firm What you need to know therefore the ability to breathe, On the surface to limit breathing movement on other hand, the increasing fluid may that side wnough to reduce stretching seperate the linings so that the movement of sore tissues. They may also perscribe of the chest wall and the sensitive outer medication for the pain itself. lining is limited - causing no pain to subside. For dry pleurisy, such treatment is generally enough. In wet pleurisy, the A large amount of fluid displaces the health professional may decide to remove heart as well as the lung. The lung may the fluid by drawing it out with a needle. remain compressed or displaced and dail Timing of this is important since the fluid to return to it’s full capacity because if may come back if its removed too soon. thickening of the pleura after all the fluid On the other hand, if not done early has been absorbed. enough, dense adhesions may form. Fluid that is relatively clear may give little trouble and be readily absorbed in time. But if the fluid becomes infected - as it may do - it turns into pus and may lead to further complications, This condition is called “empyema” and is very serious. Hospitalization may be required to remove the fluid. www.nb.lung.ca 65 Brunswick St., Fredericton, NB 1-800-565-LUNG (5864) | [email protected] WHAT IS PLEURISY? SYMPTOMS HOW PLEURISY HAPPENS Pleurisy may be acute - appearing, Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura: instance - in which the germs reach the a two-ply membrane that both enclose pleura as well as the lungs themselves, or giving trouble for a period, and then the lung and lines the chest cavity. tuberculosis, or lung abscess or almost disappearing. It may be chronic, hanging anything wrong in the chest. on, the pain steady and reccuring often, Normally, there is nothing but a thin layer the interference with breathing and of lubricating layer of fluid between the normal activity an enduring burden. inner pleura lining and the outer one. The smooth pleura linings and lubricating fluid These symptoms and course of primary allow your lungs to move freely in your and secondary pleurisy may be exactly chest, as they do in normal breathing. the same, with only the cause different. Dry pleurisy is an inflammation that has In people with pleurisy, the two layers of not formed fluid. It can be very painful, pleura get inflamed (red & swollen). This especially when the swollen outer layer is can create a space between the layers People with pleurisy may experience: stretched on breathing. The victim may called the pleural cavity (cavity means - Pain: during each breath, when distinctly feel a grating sensation when space). In wet pleurisy, this space can fill up with fluid and get infected. you move, extreme pain when the two layers - both perhaps stiffened coughing or sneezing and swollen - rub against each other. - Shallow/ diffucult breathing Oddly enough, however, it is only the outer lining, next to the chest wall that - Dry coughing WHAT CAUSES PLEURISY feels pain. The one next to the lung has - Weakness no pain nerves. - Headache Pleurisy can arise from various causes and - Loss of appetite take various ways to develop, sometimes - Chills with excess fluid in the pleural cavity - Fever (”wet pleurisy”) and sometimes without - Rapid Heartbeat Wet pleurisy ( pleurisy with effusion) (”dry pleurisy”), sometimes accompanied involves fluid that may arise from by no pain sometimes very painful. several causes. One which may be the inflammation itself, which causes There are two kinds of pleurisy. A “primary” pleurisy is an inflammation arising in the These symptoms could be caused by an outpouring of blood and lymph ( pleural tissues themselves, from a germ pleurisy or they could be caused by supplementary body fluid). A chest injury that attacked them directly, or perhaps another disease; only a health professional with bleeding is an example of another from an injury or growth. A “secondary” can tell. If you have these symptoms see possible source of fluid. pleurisy is an added effect from some a healh care professional right away. other chest disease - pneumonia, for.