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Pleurisy affects the membranes that line the chest cavity and around the lungs. These 2 layers of membranes are separated by a thin layer of fluid that allows them to move smoothly by one another with each breath. If the membranes swell, they rub against each another, causing sharp pain when breathing and/or coughing. This symptom/condition is called pleuritis or pleurisy. Usually, there is no pain between breaths. More symptoms may involve shortness of breath, dry cough, or fever/chills.
Pleurisy is not a disease by itself--it is a symptom of another condition, such as viral infection, bacterial infection (i.e. pneumonia or tuberculosis), or an auto-immune condition (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis). As such, pleurisy is not contagious, BUT some of its possible underlying conditions, such as tuberculosis, can be VERY contagious, especially to young children and people with low- or non-functioning immune systems (from AIDS, MDS [not muscular dystrophy, but myo-dysplastic syndrome], Leukemia, etc.).
In addition to being caused by sickness, pleurisy can also show up after a chest injury or heart surgery. Occassionally its cause is undetermined. To try to diagnose the underlying cause, physicians may listen to the lungs with a stethoscope, look at an X-ray, run blood tests, and/or remove a fluid sample from the chest with a needle.
The symptoms of pleurisy can be diminished by treating the underlying cause. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to help symptoms in the case of viral infections, which are usually left to run their course. Codeine can be used to diminish coughing and pain.
As a possible complication of many illnesses, pleurisy can be chronic or reoccur, with different levels of severity. Persons with severe chest pain that goes away when they hold their breath, or go along with a fever, may want to see their doctor to diagnose possible pleurisy and any other issues at hand.
What else can I help you with?
What does pulmonary edema do?
Pulmonary Edema is when liquids fill your lungs. It's caused by the left arterie failure.
Why is pulmonary edema treated with phlebotomy?
Patients with pulmonary edema may undergo phlebotomy procedures to decrease their total blood volume.
What develops within the pulmonary capillaries when the pressure increases?
pulmonary edema
What happens in pulmonary edema?
Normally very little to no fluid enters the alveoli of the lungs. In pulmonary edema there is increased pressure in the pulmonary veins. So fluid escapes in the alveoli of the lungs, making transfer of the oxygen impossible from such alveoli. Patient feels suffocated and starve for oxygen, in pulmonary edema.
What are the symptoms of pale skin in pulmonary edema?
no
At what age do you get pulmonary edema?
any one
What does HAPE mean?
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs)...
Types of edema?
Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissues. There are several types of edema, including peripheral edema (swelling in the extremities), pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs), cerebral edema (swelling in the brain), and macular edema (swelling in the retina of the eye). Each type of edema can have different causes and treatments, depending on the underlying condition.
What Medication causes Flash Pulmonary Edema?
NSAIDS
Who gets pulmonary edema?
Heart failure patients
Flash Pulmonary Edema is located in what part of the body?
Flash pulmonary edema is a rapid onset edema that occurs in the lungs. Typically it is precipitated by a myocardial infarction or heart failure. Pulmonary edema is treated by treating the underlying cause which is most commonly some form of heart failure.
What does Pulmonary do?
Pulmonary Edema is when liquids fill your lungs. It's caused by the left arterie failure.
