pleurisy causes and relief
Treatment of the underlying disease, of course, ultimately relieves the pleurisy. For example, if a heart, lung, or kidney condition is present, it is treated. Removal of fluid from the chest cavity (thoracentesis) can relieve the pain and shortness of breath.
Common causes of pleurisy include trauma, postcardiac injury, infection (i.e., viral, bacterial, or parasitic), respiratory illness, caustic exposure (i.e., drug-induced), autoimmune disease, and malignancy (TABLE 1).
Viral infection is probably the most common cause of pleurisy. Other causes include the following: Lung infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis; Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, liver diseases and pulmonary embolism; Chest injuries; Drug reactions; Pleurisy and pleural effusion are generally only as serious as the underlying disease causing it. If you have any of these conditions, you may already be undergoing treatment for the underlying disease; if not, seek medical attention immediately. A pleural effusion can occur without pleurisy. Kidney disease, heart failure and liver disease can cause pleural effusion without inflammation or pain. What are the symptoms of pleurisy? Symptoms of pleurisy include the following:
What causes pleurisy? In young, healthy people, an infection of the lower respiratory system by a virus or bacteria may cause pleurisy. Pleurisy usually lasts a few days to 2 weeks. In very rare cases, the virus or bacteria may spread and cause pleurisy in others. Other causes of pleurisy include air leaking into the pleural cavity from a hole in a lung (pneumothorax), injury to the chest (such as a broken rib), tuberculosis or other infections, or a tumor in the pleura.