Symptoms of pleurisy of the lungs and what it is
Pleuritis is inflammation of the serous membrane of the lungs, which is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity or the deposition of fibrin on the surface of the pleural sheets. In the latter case, we are talking about dry or fibrous pleurisy. The doctor will tell you about the causes of dry pleurisy in adults at the appointment. Depending on the reason that caused this pathology, pleurisy can be non-infectious and infectious. The causative agents of infectious diseases are: tuberculosis mycobacteria, streptococcus, staphylococcus, pneumococcus, hemophilic bacillus, echinococcus, fungi, etc. Non-infectious pleurisy is most often a complication of such conditions as:
- autoimmune diseases;
- severe allergic reactions;
- extensive hemorrhages during operations and chest injuries;
- acute form of bacterial pneumonia;
- kidney, liver or heart failure;
- infectious diseases (syphilis, brucellosis);
- oncological diseases;
- fungal lesions of the lungs;
- dystrophy during prolonged starvation.
Most often, pleurisy occurs with tuberculosis and cancer. We will talk about the signs of tuberculous pleurisy later.
Types of pleurisy
Taking into account the clinical manifestations and nature of effusion in the pleural cavity, the following types of the disease are distinguished: fibrous (dry) pleurisy, exudative, purulent and tuberculous.
Fibrous. The appearance of exudate in the pleural cavity is not characteristic of the inflammatory process. The fluid only lubricates the pleural sheets and settles as deposits, and this complicates the process of sliding the sheets. Symptoms of dry pleurisy: fever, painful cough, pain in the affected part.
Exudative pleurisy. The disease is characterized by a gradual increase in symptoms. The patient complains of headache and subfebrile temperature, slight weakness and heaviness in the affected side of the sternum. Slight shortness of breath bothers the patient even at rest. In the "Treatment" section, you will learn how to treat exudative pleurisy.
Purulent pleurisy is an accumulation of purulent exudate between the sheets of the pleura. The disease belongs to severe pathologies that pose a real threat to the patient's life. Symptoms: high fever, severe pain in the affected part of the sternum, shortness of breath, weakness, headache, chills. The doctor will tell you about complications after purulent pleurisy at the appointment. You can sign up for a consultation on our website Dobrobut.com. The specialist will talk about the features of the symptoms of this pathology and the methods of its diagnosis.
Tuberculous pleurisy. The disease is characterized by a chronic course with a slow increase in general intoxication of the body and signs of lung damage.
Suppurative pleurisy in oncology is a serious condition characterized by respiratory failure, severe headache, high temperature and high blood pressure. Complications – bronchial fistula and empyema.
Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary pleurisy in the elderly
As a rule, diagnosis of the disease does not cause difficulties. After examining the patient and taking an anamnesis, the doctor may additionally prescribe:
- general and biochemical blood analysis;
- microbiological study of pleural effusion;
- X-ray examination of the lungs.
The course of treatment is prescribed taking into account the results of the study and the general condition of the patient. Note that the treatment of pulmonary pleurisy in the elderly has a number of features.
Treatment
The main goals of therapy are to eliminate the cause that caused the pathology, to normalize respiratory function and the general condition of the patient. Treatment of infectious pleurisy includes antibiotic therapy, the use of anti-inflammatory and desensitizing drugs. Analgesics are recommended to alleviate the pain syndrome. Considering the clinical manifestations of adhesive pleurisy, the doctor may additionally prescribe mucolytic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, breathing exercises and herbal decoctions are recommended to the patient.
Any type of pleurisy is treated only in hospital conditions.
Complications after purulent pleurisy
Adhesions. They develop, as a rule, with incorrect or untimely treatment. Adhesions are formed between the sheets of the pleura in the area of inflammation. This complication not only reduces the respiratory volume, but also limits the mobility of the lungs.
Suppuration in the pleural cavity often ends with the appearance of scars, which can lead to breathing problems.
If you still have questions, make an appointment for a consultation at the above numbers. The specialist will talk about the main symptoms of pleurisy of the lungs and what kind of disease it is. If necessary, diagnostic measures will be prescribed on a day convenient for you. After receiving the results, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment and monitor its implementation.
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