Pleurisy Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Pleurisy is an inflammatory condition of the pleura. The pleura is a membrane that covers the lungs and separates them from the ribs. In the pleural membranes, there is a fluid that helps reduce friction when humans breathe. However, when inflammation occurs, this fluid becomes sticky, causing pain when the pleural membranes rub together.
Pleuritis is a common condition. However, this condition is more often experienced by people aged 65 years and over or who have recently undergone surgery in the chest area.
Symptoms
The main symptom of pleurisy that is commonly complained of by sufferers is pain in the chest that feels like being stabbed. This pain can appear on one side of the chest or on the entire chest, it can even radiate to the shoulder and shoulder. The pain is more intense when the patient inhales.
In addition to signs in the form of pain in the chest, other symptoms may also appear. Starting from fever (although only in a few cases), shortness of breath, coughing, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. In addition, sufferers can also experience unexplained weight loss.
You need to be aware of the following conditions and you should immediately see a doctor to get the right treatment.
- Coughing up phlegm (usually the phlegm will be yellow or green) accompanied by high fever and chills. Cough and fever can be a sign of Pleurisy. However, another condition that needs to be suspected is pneumonia.
- If the signs of Pleurisy are accompanied by swollen arms or legs, there is a possibility that you are dealing with pulmonary embolus and deep vein thrombosis.
Reason
The most common cause of Pleurisy is a viral infection from the lung that spreads to the pleura. However, this condition can also occur due to other causes. Some other causes are:
- Bacterial infection
- Fungal infection
- Tuberculosis infection
- The presence of a tumor or cancer in the pleural area
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Pancreatitis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Post heart surgery
- Certain drugs
Several conditions can also make a person have risk factors for Pleurisy, such as:
- Certain respiratory conditions
- diabetic
- Patients with chronic bronchitis
- Sufferers of heart disease
- Patients with collagen vascular disease
Diagnosis
During the initial examination in determining the diagnosis, the doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced through a series of medical interviews. In addition, the doctor will also do a physical examination.
On physical examination, typical breath sounds can be heard indicating Pleurisy by stethoscope examination. Furthermore, to ensure the presence of Pleurisy, an X-ray examination is generally necessary.
Treatment
Treatment of Pleurisy depends on the cause. If the cause is bacteria, the doctor will give antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Medication can also be given to treat the inflammation that occurs. If the cause is a virus, Pleurisy will actually heal spontaneously after a few days.
To deal with chest pain that occurs, the doctor will give anti-pain drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs due to Pleurisy, it is sometimes necessary to collect fluid using a needle (pleural puncture). The goal is to reduce the symptoms that occur.
Prevention
Not all cases of Pleurisy can be prevented. One of the preventable causes of Pleurisy is infection. Pleurisy due to infection can be prevented by maintaining the immune system and preventing close contact with people with lung infections and pleurisy.