![]() For example, medicines called antibiotics for lung infection (pneumonia), chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancers, etc. Pleural effusion treatment Treating the underlying causeĪ major part of treatment is usually directed to the underlying cause of the build-up of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (pleural effusion). These may include lung tests, blood tests and taking a sample of the fluid and pleura to examine in the laboratory. However, sometimes a pleural effusion is the first sign of an underlying condition.įurther tests may then be advised to find the cause of the effusion. If the cause of the effusion is known then no further tests may be needed. How is a pleural effusion diagnosed?Ī chest X-ray usually confirms a build-up of fluid between a lung and the chest wall (pleural effusion). One example is you may have a cough and a high temperature (fever) if the cause is lung infection (pneumonia). As a whole range of conditions can cause a pleural effusion, there is a large range of other symptoms that may occur, depending on the underlying cause. You may also have symptoms of the condition that is causing the effusion. As the effusion becomes larger, it presses on the lung, which cannot expand fully when you breathe. You may feel some chest pain but a pleural effusion is often painless. For example, cirrhosis of the liver and some kidney diseases may cause a low level of blood protein which allows a pleural effusion to develop. A low level of protein in the blood also tends to allow fluid to seep out of the blood vessels.Swelling of the legs with fluid is typical with heart failure, but a pleural effusion may also develop. Some fluid may seep out of the blood vessels. Heart failure causes 'back pressure' in the veins (blood vessels) that take blood back to the heart.For example, pleural effusion is an uncommon complication of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some arthritic conditions may cause inflammation of the pleura in addition to joint inflammation.This may cause fluid to build up into a pleural effusion. Lung infection (pneumonia), tuberculosis, and cancers may cause inflammation of the lung and pleura.The following are some of the more common causes of a pleural effusion (but there are other rarer causes too): Causes of a pleural effusionĪ pleural effusion is a complication of various conditions. Less common causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, after a heart attack and pancreatitis. The most common causes of these are infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, or cancer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |