Pleuritis
What is pleuritis? Complete information about its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Symptoms and Causes
Pleuritis, or pleurisy, is the inflammation of the pleura, a double-layered membrane that covers the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity. Between these two layers, there is fluid that facilitates the expansion and contraction of these organs during inhalation and exhalation without causing friction. When this tissue becomes swollen, breathing becomes painful because the two layers rub against each other.
Often, pleuritis is accompanied by a pleural effusion, though this is not the case in every instance.
Treatment typically focuses on curing the disease that causes pleurisy and alleviating the symptoms. However, there is no specific treatment for pleuritis itself.
Symptoms
The most prominent symptoms of pleuritis are:
- Chest pain that worsens when breathing.
- Shortness of breath.
- In some cases, fever and cough.
Causes
Pleuritis is caused by other conditions, usually pulmonary, such as:
- Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. For example, flu, pneumonia, tuberculosis, or aspergillosis.
- Lung cancer.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Immune system disorders.
- Chest trauma.
In some cases, it can be triggered by the use of certain medications or illegal substances.
Risk Factors
Having any of the conditions mentioned above increases the risk of pleura inflammation.
Complications
Pleuritis can cause difficulty breathing, which may lead to a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. In cases where a pleural effusion occurs, fluid may accumulate in the lung or the chest wall.
Usually, the more serious complications arise from the disease that caused the pleurisy.
Prevention
The best way to prevent pleuritis is to protect oneself properly against infections and follow health recommendations.
Which doctor treats pleuritis?
Pleuritis is diagnosed and treated by pulmonologists.
Diagnosis
In a medical consultation, the specialist conducts an anamnesis and a physical examination where lung sounds are heard. To confirm the diagnosis of pleuritis, further tests are performed, such as:
- Blood tests to determine if there is an infection or an undiagnosed immune disorder.
- Chest X-ray or CT scan to observe the state of the lungs, especially the pleura, its ability to expand during inhalation, or to determine if the cause of pain is due to other reasons.
- In some cases, thoracentesis is performed to analyze the pleural fluid and detect specific pathologies.
Treatment
The treatment of pleuritis depends on the underlying disease that caused it. On one hand, viral infections resolve on their own, along with the pleura inflammation, in a few days. On the other hand, those caused by bacteria require antibiotics for treatment.
To reduce the symptoms of pleurisy, anti-inflammatory medications are often used to reduce swelling, along with pain relievers to alleviate the pain.
