Pulmonary pleurisy - what is it and how to deal with it? Pulmonary pleurisy - what is it? Symptoms and treatment Pulmonary pleurisy symptoms and causes of development.

The lungs are the main organ of the human respiratory system. They have an anatomical structure that allows them to perform the function of providing oxygen assigned to them.

The serous membrane of the lungs is called the pleura, which can be visceral (pulmonary) or parietal (parietal):

1. Visceral pleura - covers the lungs from all sides and is tightly connected to them. It enters the space between the pulmonary lobes, passing into the parietal at the surface of the lung root.
2. Parietal pleura - lines the nearby walls of the chest region, protecting the lungs from the mediastinum. Spliced \u200b\u200bwith the inner surface of the sternum. It forms a sac in each of the halves of the chest cavity, which contain the lungs covered with visceral pleura.

The lungs are a paired organ dividing into the right lung and the left. Located in the chest cavity, they occupy up to 80% of its total volume. Lung tissue looks like a sponge with pink pores. Gradually, it darkens due to smoking, pathologies in the respiratory system, aging.

What is pulmonary pleurisy?

Pulmonary pleurisy is a complex inflammatory pathology, especially dangerous for children and the elderly. The disease begins as a result of inflammation (infectious or not) of the pleural layers. It is rarely independent, more often it is a consequence of painful processes in the lungs.

Inflammation of the pleural membranes of the lungs is accompanied by the release of exudate:

1. With dry pleurisy, fibrin falls on the surface of the pleura.
2. With exudative pleurisy, the secret accumulates in the pleural cavity.

Exudative pleurisy of the lungs also refers to processes accompanied by pathological effusion without inflammation - tumors, trauma, infections.

Species and general taxonomy

Depending on the reasons that gave rise to pulmonary pleurisy, its development and forms of manifestation, it happens:

1. Purulent.
   • It occurs due to the filling of the pleural cavity with purulent effusion. The pulmonary and parietal membranes become inflamed.
2. Exudative.
   • The pleura is affected by infections, tumors, injuries.
3. Dry.
   • Complications of diseases of the lungs and other organs located next to the pleural cavity. May manifest itself as a symptom of systemic diseases.
4. Tuberculous.
   • The serous membranes, which create the pleural cavity and envelop the human lungs, are affected. The disease is diagnosed by the large volume of fluid released.

The symptomatology of each type is typical and depends on the nature of the course of the disease.

Disease stages

By the nature of the course, pleurisy of the lungs has three stages.

1. The first stage is the exudation stage.
   • There is an increased production of pleural fluid - a consequence of the expansion of blood vessels and an increase in their permeability. This happens when immune cells activate biological processes against the background of infection. Excess fluid has time to be excreted by the lymphatic system, since its volume in the pleura does not exceed normal.
2. The second stage is the stage of formation of purulent exudate.
   • A sticky, fibrin-rich exudate begins to be deposited on the pleural sheets. Friction between them increases, gradually the sheets are soldered (spliced). Formed "pockets", which significantly complicate the allocation of exudate from the pleural cavity. In places of accumulation of secretions, bacteria accumulate, which have died from contact with immune cells. Which, in combination with protein activity, leads to putrefaction and decomposition. Inflammatory processes begin to develop in adjacent tissues, the outflow of fluids through the vessels of the lymphatic system is disrupted. Even more liquid purulent mass is collected in the pleural cavity.
3. The third stage is the stage of chronicity or recovery.
   • The stage of resorption of pathological formations or their transition to a chronic form. Chronization is manifested:
     • a significant decrease in lung mobility;
     • an increase in the thickness of the pleura;
     • a decrease in the outflow of pleural fluid;
     • the formation of pleural adhesions;
     • sometimes, the pleura is completely overgrown with fibrous tissue.

The reasons

It is rarely possible to meet the disease in its pure form. You can get pleurisy with a chest injury or hypothermia, but more often this is a consequence of a complication of another disease. The nature of the symptoms depends on it.

Infectious pleurisy is the most common form. The general sensitivity of the patient is important for its development. The reactivity of the disease changes significantly when, due to microbes or toxins, allergization of the pleural cavity begins. The immune system directs the produced antibodies to the affected area, which, when combined with antigens, affect the production of histamines.

About three quarters of infectious problems are caused by exposure to bacterial agents:

• tubercle bacillus;
• fungal infection;
• streptococci;
• staphylococci;
• anaerobic bacteria;
• legionella.

A non-infectious form can occur for the following reasons:

• the formation of malignant tumors on the pleural sheets;
• spread of metastases in the pleural cavity;
• lung infarction;
• connective tissue injuries in the background:
  • scleroderma;
  • systemic vasculitis;
  • lupus erythematosus.

The following diseases contribute to pleurisy of the lungs:

• angina;

Pulmonary pleurisy symptoms

The symptoms of pleurisy depend on the specific form of the disease and the nature of its course. Often, the onset of the development of the disease is missed by patients, since it is confused with the common cold. However, the main symptoms of the disease still differ from other respiratory pathologies.

Exudative, encapsulated pleurisy: symptoms

Significant differences in the clinical picture of this form of the disease are possible, depending on the location and the age of the pathology. The nature of the discharge and its volume are also important.

Pleurisy of the indicated type includes:

1. Interlobar:
   • do not have pronounced symptoms.
2. Encapsulated parietal:
   • increasing (with sneezing and coughing) chest pain;
   • encapsulation of exudate in the sinus of the diaphragm leads to the spread of pain impulses to the upper abdomen, it becomes difficult to swallow;
   • pain can spread to the area of \u200b\u200bthe scapula, neck. By nature, it resembles pain in Pancost's cancer or plexitis.
3. Encapsulated purulent:
   • gives a typical picture of pleural empyema:
     • the temperature rises;
     • the patient feels the strongest chills,
     • there is an obvious intoxication.
   • Of not pronounced symptoms:
     • the patient feels general weakness;
     • malaise;
     • purulent encapsulated effusion can break through into the bronchi and tissues of the chest cavity, forming pleuro-cutaneous or pleural-bronchial fistulas.

Signs of dry (fibrinous), adhesive pleurisy

Adhesive pleurisy - a form of fibrinous pleurisy - the most common chronic disease affecting the lung membrane. From the fibrinous plaque on the pleura, adhesions are formed, which lead to tissue immobilization, reducing the volume of the lungs.

The disease corresponds to the symptoms characteristic of all types of dry pleurisy:

• a dry cough appears, manifested by attacks;
• body temperature rises, chills begin;
• rapid and labored breathing;
• pleura leaves when rubbing against each other cause wheezing;
• shortness of breath occurs;
• the patient feels a general malaise;
• in the evening, the fever intensifies against the background of a sharp increase in sweating.

Against the background of these symptoms, severe pain begins in the affected lung, aggravated by deep breaths or sharp bends / turns of the body. Sometimes pains appear in the region of the heart, in the upper abdomen and neck.

A characteristic feature is the suddenness of the manifestation of symptoms. The patient can accurately name the time of the onset of the development of pathology.

Manifestations of effusion (purulent, serous) pleurisy of the lungs

Purulent, effusive pleurisy of the lungs is the most severe form of pathology. It is diagnosed in all categories of citizens, regardless of gender and age. Causes damage to the membrane of the lung, the formation of arrays of liquid pus inside the organ.

The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• heaviness or pain in your chest;
• general weakness, loss of strength is felt;
• an annoying strong cough begins;
• shortness of breath appears;
• body temperature rises sharply;
• there is a constant feeling of fullness in the side
• breathing is disturbed, it becomes difficult for a person to inhale and exhale.

With purulent pleurisy, pain is the main symptom. Gradually, as pus accumulates in the pleural cavity, this symptom goes away. The cough is rarely accompanied by sputum discharge, manifesting itself mainly at night. If this is a complication after a previous infection, exudate may be released.

Differences between tuberculous, viral pleurisy

Tuberculous pleurisy is a pulmonary pathology with active exudate secretion (into the pleural cavity and on the surface of the lung). The disease is typical for childhood, although it also occurs in adults. It can be either a separate form of tuberculosis or an independent disease.

1. Allergic form.
   • It occurs in tuberculosis patients, with sensitivity to tuberculin, prone to hyperergic reactions. Symptoms appear abruptly: a rapid rise in temperature that lasts 10-14 days. Due to serous effusion, there are breathing problems, pain in the side, and increased heart rate.
2. Perifocal form.
   • It starts gradually. Symptoms are often associated with hypothermia or a viral infection. There is a dry cough, borderline temperature (37-38 0 C), tingling, burning in the chest. When pressing on the intercostal zones, painful sensations. The pains are similar to myositis or intercostal neuralgia, with irradiation into the abdominal cavity - to an attack of cholecystitis.

Pleurisy cough

With pleurisy, the pleural leaves become inflamed, it can be dry and exudative. When dry, a dry, often reflex, cough appears. Patients try to restrain him, since the shuddering of the chest causes severe pain.

As fluid accumulates in the pleural plane, the intensity of the cough gradually decreases. Heaviness and shortness of breath appear in the side. Weak vesicular breathing can be expressed, sometimes you can feel the noise from friction of the pleura.

Exudative pleurisy passes without obvious activation of the cough center. It is accompanied by a sharp weakening of breathing, the voice trembles and the percussion sound is shortened.

Possible complications

Treatment of pleurisy should be carried out on time, this is the only way to avoid possible complications. And the disease has many of them:

• adhesions form in the pleural cavity;
• general respiratory failure of organs and systems;
• adhesive form of pleurisy;
• obliteration of interlobar fissures;
• the pleural cavity is healed;
• decreased mobility of the diaphragm;
• pleurosclerosis.

The appearance of complications depends on the causes of the pathology, the course of its development. To avoid complications, one should not hesitate to visit a doctor.

Diagnostics

It is easy to diagnose pleurisy itself; defining it as a clinical condition is not a problem. It is difficult to determine the causes of the painful condition. Diagnostics will require such methods:

• inspection and questioning;
• examination of the patient in a clinical setting;
• blood test;
• collection and analysis of pleural effusion;
• microbiological examination.

Based on the results of the diagnostic examination, the necessary treatment is prescribed.

Treatment

In the treatment of pleurisy, two main tasks are pursued: to stabilize the patient's condition and to normalize his respiratory function. But first, it is required to eliminate the cause that caused the disease. For this, both traditional and alternative medicine methods are suitable.

Traditional medicine

The basis of medical methods for treating pleurisy is made up of antibacterial drugs, since the nature of the disease is infectious. The pleura itself is treated with desensitizing and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The selection of drugs depends on the data obtained after the diagnosis. The choice of antibiotics is based on the sensitivity of the pathogenic microflora, which is detected during laboratory examination. Dosage rates - according to the current state of the patient.

1. Antibiotics:
   • Clindamycin;
   • Ceftriaxone;
   • Ampicillin.
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
   • Meloxicam;
   • Ibuprofen;
   • Diclofenac.
3. Glucocorticosteroid:
   • Prednisolone.

Folk remedies

Pleurisy can be treated based on traditional medicine recipes. The most common home remedies include:

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Prevention of pleurisy, coupled with measures to strengthen the immune system, reduces the risk of inflammatory lung disease.

Inflammation of the pleural membrane, which is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid and the presence of fibrous plaque, is called pleurisy. A disease can act as a concomitant pathology, or develop as a result of any disease. The disease is most severe in children and the elderly.

Disease classification

Depending on the cause of the occurrence, pathology can be classified as follows:

1. Primary. This type of disease is independent, developing regardless of other diseases.
2. Secondary. Acts as a complication of pulmonary inflammatory processes. Moreover, the latter can be acute or chronic.

According to the presence or absence of inflammatory fluid, the following classification has been established:

• Dry pleurisy (otherwise - fibrinous).
• Effusion form (purulent, serous, hemorrhagic, serous-fibrinous).

According to the area of \u200b\u200bspread of the effusion, the ailment is:

• Diffuse (fluid moves throughout the pleural cavity).
• Encapsulated (effusion accumulates in any area).

Sometimes pathology indicates the course of systemic ailments. Usually, pleurisy of the lungs develops with oncology or tuberculosis. However, specialists often begin treatment directly for inflammation, forgetting about the root cause of its occurrence. The inflammatory process can manifest itself in both a child and an adult. Many remain undetected.

Because of what the disease develops

Speaking about the causes of the disease, it is necessary to understand: what it is and what are the symptoms of the disease.

Pleurisy is one of the diseases of the respiratory system. The pathology is characterized by the defeat of the pulmonary and parietal pleura. The latter is the shell that covers the right and left lungs, and lining the chest.

The effusion form of the disease is accompanied by the accumulation of any exudate in the pleural cavity (between the leaves). Pus, blood, and inflammatory fluid can collect there.

The conditional classification of the cause of the disease is as follows:

1. Infectious.
2. Inflammatory (aseptic).

The risk of developing the disease is increased due to many factors. Here they are:

• Regular overwork, stressful situations.
• Hypothermia.
• Food that is low in nutrients.
• Insufficient physical activity.
• Allergy to medicines.

With hypothermia, the risk of development increases

If we talk about the infectious nature of pleurisy, then its causes may be:

• Syphilis.
• Tuberculosis.
• Bacterial infection (eg, staphylococcus aureus).
• Candidiasis (or any other fungal infection).
• Tularemia.
• Operational interventions.
• Any trauma to the thoracic region.

The aseptic form of the disease is characterized by the following reasons:

• The spread of metastases in the pleura (lung cancer, etc.).
• Lung infarction, systemic vasculitis, etc.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Tumor-like formations of the pleural sheets.

Pleurisy develops at different rates. The disease can persist for quite a long time.

The approximate classification is as follows:

• Acute course of the disease (up to 14-28 days).
• Subacute (from 30 days to six months).
• Chronic form (more than 6 months).

The methods of infection of the pleural cavity with microorganisms are different. Contact penetration of infection implies infection through the lymphatic fluid or blood. Direct entry of bacteria is possible during surgery, or in case of damage and injury.

The question of whether pleurisy is contagious often worries relatives of the patient. An unambiguous answer can be given based on the cause of the lesion. Pleurisy that develops as a result of trauma is not transmitted to others... If the root cause of the disease is viral, the disease can be transmitted, although the likelihood of infection is low.

Dry pleurisy

Differs in the formation of fibrin on the surface of the pleura. In this case, there is no effusion in the pleural cavity. Usually, this form of the disease occurs somewhat earlier than exudative.

Usually, the disease is concomitant with such diseases as:

• Rheumatism.
• Collagenosis.
• Malignant tumors.
• Most of the pathologies of the intrathoracic lymph nodes and lower respiratory tract.
• Some viruses.

As an independent disease, dry pleurisy develops infrequently.

Tuberculous pleurisy

According to medical statistics, an increasing number of patients are suffering from this type of ailment.

Pathology can be any of three forms:

• Fibrous.
• Purulent.
• Exudative.

Depending on the characteristics of the pathology and its course, tuberculous pleurisy is subject to the following classification:

1. Perifocal.
2. Pleural tuberculosis.
3. Allergic.

About half of cases of dry pleurisy is a signal indicating the presence of a latent form of tuberculosis. Pleural tuberculosis is extremely rare. More often, the lymph nodes or lungs are affected, and fibrous pleurisy in this case plays the role of a concomitant pathology.

Purulent pleurisy

Certain groups of microbes are capable of causing purulent pleurisy of the lung, namely:

• Streptococci.
• Pneumococci.
• Pathogenic staphylococci.

Other types of sticks are much less common. Usually one group of microbes contributes to the development of the disease, but sometimes several varieties act at once.

Symptoms of this form of the disease, as well as the clinical picture, differ due to the age of the patient. In children of the first year of life (usually up to 3 months), purulent pleurisy often proceeds similarly to umbilical sepsis or pneumonia caused by staphylococci.

The bulge of the chest can be visually diagnosed. Partial lowering of the shoulder is observed, and the arm becomes inactive. For the disease in older children, symptoms of total pleural inflammation are characteristic. The patient may be disturbed by a dry cough with sputum discharge or purulent discharge.

Encapsulated pleurisy

One of the most severe forms of the disease is enclosed lung pleurisy. Pathology develops against the background of prolonged inflammation in the pleura and lungs. Because of this, a large number of adhesions arise, and the exudate is separated from the pleural cavity. The pathology is characterized by fusion of the pleural sheets, which leads to the accumulation of effusion in one area.

Exudative pleurisy

Its main difference is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity.

Stagnation of effusion occurs due to:

• Injury to the thoracic region, which is accompanied by bleeding.
• Hemorrhage.
• Outpouring of lymphatic fluid.

Depending on the nature of the fluid, pleurisy is classified into:

1. Serous fibrinous.
2. Mixed.
3. Hemorrhagic.
4. Hilyzny.

The origin of the effusion is usually difficult to establish. The accumulated fluid can lead to breathing problems because it inhibits the movement of the lungs.

Symptoms of the problem

The inflammatory process can proceed with the formation of exudate or without it. The symptoms of pleurisy vary depending on this.

The dry form of pathology corresponds to such signs as:

• Soreness of a stabbing nature in the thoracic region. It is especially pronounced with coughing, sudden movements, deep breaths.
• The need for placement on the affected side.
• Breathing is shallow, and the affected half of the sternum visually lags behind the healthy one.
• When listening, one can determine weaker breathing in the area of \u200b\u200bfibrin formation, as well as a pleural friction noise.
• Excessive sweating, chills, fever.

For the exudative type of disease, the symptoms are as follows:

• Blunt pain syndrome in the damaged area.
• Prolonged cough without sputum discharge.
• A pronounced lag in the patient's sternum in breathing.
• Shortness of breath, heaviness, intercostal spaces swell.
• Increased body temperature, weakness and fatigue, excessive chills.

The clinical picture of purulent pleurisy in both adults and children is somewhat worse.

The disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Increased body temperature.
• Increased soreness of the thoracic region.
• Shivering and aches.
• Heart palpitations.
• The skin becomes earthy.
• Weight loss.

When pleurisy from an acute form flows into a chronic one, pleural adhesions begin to appear in the damaged lung. They prevent the lung from expanding normally, exacerbating existing breathing problems.

Video

Video - what to do if it hurts to breathe?

Possible complications

Timely treatment of pulmonary pleurisy will help prevent many consequences:

• The formation of adhesions in the pleural cavity.
• Obliteration of interlobar fissures.
• Adhesive pleurisy.
• Healing of pleural cavities.
• Increase in the thickness of the pleura.
• · Occurrence of pleurosclerosis.
• Empyema (accumulation of purulent discharge).
• Respiratory failure.
• Decrease in the mobility of the diaphragm.

The presence or absence of complications is directly related to the cause of the development of pathology. Knowing how dangerous pleurisy of the lungs is, one should not postpone a trip to a specialist.

Identifying the problem

Only a competent doctor can decide how to treat pulmonary pleurisy. The selection of therapy is based on the results of the patient's examination. To diagnose pathology, the clinic conducts certain examinations.

Here is a list of them:

1. Visual examination, collection of anamnesis.
2. Clinical examination of the patient.
3. Radiography.
4. Microbiological research.
5. Blood sampling for analysis.
6. Study of the pleural fluid.

Moreover, the diagnosis is usually straightforward. It is more problematic to determine the reasons due to which the pleura became inflamed and exudate began to accumulate.

Treatment of the disease

Having identified pleurisy of the lungs, its symptoms, the doctor prescribes a complex treatment. The main direction is to eliminate the root cause of the inflammatory process.

Please note: only dry pleurisy can be treated at home. Patients with any other form of the disease should be in a therapeutic hospital. If the patient is diagnosed with pleural empyema, he should be placed in the surgical department.

To cure dry pleurisy, do the following:

1. Taking painkillers to relieve pain. If the tablets do not bring the desired effect, it is permissible to replace them with narcotic painkillers. The latter is possible only with inpatient treatment.
2. Using warming compresses based on alcohol, camphor. The result is the use of mustard plasters and an iodine grid.
3. Getting rid of cough by taking specialized drugs.
4. Since pleurisy usually occurs against the background of tuberculosis, the root cause of the disease should be eliminated. Patients with a tuberculous form of the disease are treated in an appropriate dispensary.

With the development of the exudative form of the disease, a puncture is often performed. In one procedure, it is allowed to eliminate a maximum of 1.5 liters of inflammatory fluid. Otherwise, cardiac complications cannot be avoided. For the purulent form of the disease, the cavity is washed with antiseptic solutions.

If the stage of the disease is chronic, pleurectomy is possible. Removal of a small part of the pleura is permissible in both adults and children. The procedure allows you to prevent possible relapses of pathology. As soon as the exudate dissolves, the patient should engage in physiotherapy exercises, therapeutic and breathing exercises.

Traditional methods

Elimination of the disease with folk remedies should be carried out in conjunction with taking medications. Please note: neglect of a hospital is unacceptable when a kind of pathology requires being in it. If you adhere to therapy with folk remedies at home, you can significantly aggravate the disease.

With pleurisy of the lungs, treatment with alternative methods is based on the use of various compresses, as well as taking decoctions and tinctures.

Here are some recipes:

1. At home, you can get fresh beet juice, then mix it with honey in a ratio of 100 g / 2 tbsp. l. respectively. The mixture should be taken twice a day, after eating. It cannot be stored, so each time it is necessary to cook again.
2. From pleurisy, infusion of mint, dried chum and coltsfoot can help. Take 1 tbsp. 3 times a day.
3. Insist plantain at home. For 0.5 liters of boiling water, about 2 tbsp is taken. l. dried leaf. Strain the resulting infusion and take 100 ml warm 4 times a day.
4. Therapy with folk remedies involves the use of onion juice with honey. Mix equal proportions of the components and take 1 tbsp. l. twice a day.

To cure pleurisy in adults and children, you can use not only drug therapy. Cleverly selected folk remedies will also bring invaluable benefits.

The main respiratory organ in the human body is the lungs. The unique anatomical structure of the human lungs fully corresponds to their function, which is difficult to overestimate. Pulmonary pleurisy is caused by inflammation of the pleural sheets for infectious and non-infectious reasons. The disease does not belong to a number of independent nosological forms, as it is a complication of many pathological processes.

What is pleurisy of the lungs

Pulmonary pleurisy is one of the most complex inflammatory diseases, most severe in children and the elderly. The pleura is the serous membrane of the lung. It is divided into visceral (pulmonary) and parietal (parietal).

Each lung is covered with pulmonary pleura, which, along the root surface, passes into the parietal pleura, which lines the walls of the chest cavity adjacent to the lung and delimits the lung from the mediastinum. The pleura, which covers the lungs, allows them to painlessly touch the chest during breathing.

The lungs are a paired organ. Each person has two lungs - the right and the left. The lungs are located in the chest and occupy 4/5 of its volume. Each lung is covered with pleura, the outer edge of which is tightly adhered to the chest. The lung tissue resembles a finely porous pink sponge. With age, as well as with pathological processes of the respiratory system, prolonged smoking, the color of the lung parenchyma changes and becomes darker.

Breathing is basically an uncontrolled process carried out on a reflex level. A certain area is responsible for this - the medulla oblongata. It regulates the rate and degree of depth of breathing, focusing on the percentage of carbon dioxide concentration in the blood. The breathing rhythm is influenced by the work of the whole organism. The heart rate slows down or speeds up depending on the breathing rate.

Classification of the disease

Depending on the cause of the onset of the disease, the forms of manifestation of the disease can also differ and are divided into:

• Purulent pleurisy is a disease, the occurrence of which provokes the accumulation of purulent effusion in the pleural cavity. At the same time, the inflammatory process of the parietal and pulmonary membranes is affected.
• pleurisy is characterized by damage to the pleura of an infectious, tumor or other nature.
• Dry pleurisy is usually a complication of painful processes in the lungs or other organs located near the pleural cavity, or serves as a symptom of general (systemic) diseases.
• Tuberculous pleurisy affects the serous membranes that form the pleural cavity and cover the lungs. The main symptom of the disease is increased fluid secretion or fibrin deposition on the pleural surface.

By distribution area:

• Diffuse pleurisy (exudate moves along the pleural cavity).
• Encapsulated pleurisy (fluid accumulates in one of the sections of the pleural cavity). It can be apical, parietal, basal, interlobar.

By the nature of the lesion, pleurisy is divided into:

• escudative - fluid is formed and retained between the layers of the pleura;
• fibrous - the secretion of fluid is scarce, but the surface of the pleural walls itself is covered with a layer of fibrin (protein).

Pleurisy is also divided by the nature of its distribution:

• it can only affect one lung
• both lobes (one-sided and two-sided).

The reasons

It must be said that the disease in its pure form is rare. For example, its development can be caused by trauma to the chest, its hypothermia. In most cases, however, it accompanies a disease or arises as a complication of it.

Pulmonary pleurisy is characterized by the formation of fibrinous overlays on the surface of the pleural sheets and / or the accumulation of exudate in the pleural cavity. Symptoms depend on the form of the disease.

Infectious pleurisy is the most common. Sensitization of the organism also plays an important role in the mechanism of development of pathology. Microbes and their toxins lead to a change in the reactivity of the body and allergization of the pleura. The immune system begins to "send" the developed antibodies to the site of inflammation, which, when combined with antigens, affect the production of histamines.

About 70% of the forms of pathology are caused by bacterial agents:

• Streptococci;
• Pneumococci;
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis;
• Anaerobes;
• Mushrooms;
• Legionella;
• Tuberculosis.

The reasons for non-infectious pulmonary pleurisy are as follows:

• malignant tumors of the pleural sheets,
• metastasis in the pleura (for breast cancer, lung cancer, etc.),
• connective tissue lesions of a diffuse nature (systemic vasculitis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus),
• lung infarction.

Is pleurisy contagious? To answer this question unequivocally, you need to know the cause of pleurisy itself. If the suffering is associated with trauma to the chest, then, naturally, such pleurisy is not contagious. With viral etiology, it can be quite contagious, although the degree of contagiousness is low.

Lung pleurisy symptoms

Patients often miss the onset of pleurisy because its symptoms are similar to those of a common cold. However, the signs of this pathology are still different from other respiratory diseases. You should be aware that the signs of different types of pleurisy are also different.

The very first and most obvious sign of pulmonary pleurisy is:

• Severe, fleeting, sharp chest pain, often on one side only, with deep breathing, coughing, moving, sneezing, or even talking.
• When pleurisy appears in certain places on the lungs, pain can be felt in other parts of the body, such as the neck, shoulder, or abdomen.
• Painful breathing often provokes a dry cough, which in turn increases the pain.

The rate of increase in symptoms also plays an important role:

• for acute periods of pleural involvement, a rapid clinical take-off is characteristic;
• for tumor and chronic forms - a calmer course of the disease

How is pleurisy of the lungs in the elderly? In old age, there is a sluggish course and slow resorption of the inflammation focus.

Types of pleurisy	Description and symptoms
Dry	Dry pleurisy develops at the initial stage of inflammatory lesions of the pleura. Often, at this stage of the pathology, there are no infectious agents in the lung cavity, and the changes that arise are due to the reactive involvement of blood and lymphatic vessels, as well as an allergic component. a clear connection between pain in the chest and the act of breathing of the patient: pain suddenly arises or increases significantly at the height of a deep breath. When the inflammatory process becomes less pronounced, the pain also decreases. dry cough, which occurs due to fibrin irritation of the cough pleural nerve endings, as well as an increase in body temperature.
Purulent	Purulent pleurisy can form both with direct damage to the pleura by infectious agents, and with the independent opening of an abscess (or other accumulation of pus) of the lung into the pleural cavity. Patients with purulent pleurisy complain of: pain, feeling of heaviness or fullness in the side, cough, difficulty breathing, inability to take a deep breath, shortness of breath, increased body temperature, weakness.
Exudative	In the period of accumulation of exudate, intense pain in the chest is disturbing. The symptoms are worse with deep breathing, coughing, and movement. Increasing respiratory failure is manifested by pallor of the skin, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, acrocyanosis. Typical development of compensatory tachycardia, a decrease in blood pressure.
Tuberculous	The clinical picture of tuberculous pleurisy is diverse and is closely related to the characteristics of tuberculous inflammation in the pleural cavity and lungs. In some patients, simultaneously with pleurisy, other manifestations of tuberculosis, especially primary tuberculosis (paraspecific reactions, specific damage to the bronchi), are noted.

Stages

Inflammation of the pleura develops in response to the introduction of pathogenic microbes and consists of 3 stages: exudation, the formation of purulent discharge, and recovery.

Exudate is a fluid leaving the microvessels, containing a large amount of protein and, as a rule, blood cells. It accumulates in tissues and / or body cavities during inflammation.

Stage 1

At the first stage, under the influence of the causative agent of the disease, the blood vessels expand, the degree of their permeability increases, and the process of fluid production increases.

Stage 2

The stage of exudation gradually turns into the stage of formation of a purulent discharge. This happens in the process of further development of pathology. Fibrin deposits appear on the pleural sheets, which create friction between them when breathing. This leads to the formation of adhesions and pockets in the pleural cavity, which impede the normal outflow of exudate, which becomes purulent. Purulent discharge consists of bacteria and their waste products.

3 stage of pleurisy

At the third stage, the symptoms gradually subside, the patient either recovers, or the disease becomes chronic. Despite the fact that the external symptoms of the disease subside and cease to annoy the patient, the pathological processes inside gradually develop further.

Complications

Why is pleurisy of the lungs dangerous? As a result of the formation of scars (mooring lines), individual blocks of the lung are blocked, which contributes to a smaller intake of air during inhalation, and as a result, rapid breathing.

Launched forms of pleurisy can lead to the development of complications that are dangerous to health and life - pleural adhesions, local circulatory disorders due to vascular compression by exudate, bronchopleural fistulas.

The main complications of pleurisy:

• Purulent melting of the pleura (empyema);
• Adhesions of the pleural cavity - a consequence of exudative pleurisy;
• Thickening of the leaves, fibrosis;
• Decreased respiratory excursion of the lungs;
• Respiratory, cardiovascular failure.

The prognosis for such complications is very serious: the mortality rate reaches 50%. An even higher percentage of dying patients among the elderly and weak people, small children.

Diagnostics

If symptoms are found, you should immediately consult a doctor: in the absence of temperature - contact a local general practitioner; in case of unstable health or associated infectious disease - to the emergency department

On examination, the diseased half of the chest lags behind in the act of breathing, this can be seen by the movement of the shoulder blades. When listening to the lungs, a very characteristic sound of pleural friction is determined. Radiography for acute dry pleurisy does not provide sufficient information. Laboratory tests will characterize the underlying disease.

After the patient has been diagnosed, fluid is taken in the pleura in order to establish what fluid accumulates in it. Most often it is exudate or pus, in rare cases - blood. It is noteworthy that the purulent form of the disease is more common in children.

The following examinations are used to diagnose pleurisy:

• examination and questioning of the patient;
• clinical examination of the patient;
• x-ray examination;
• blood test;
• analysis of pleural effusion;
• microbiological research.

Pulmonary pleurisy treatment

If you have been diagnosed with pleurisy of the lungs, what is it, how to treat the disease - the attending physician will explain. If pulmonary pleurisy is suspected, the symptoms and all previous treatment are analyzed, and the patient is hospitalized.

Looking at the type of disease, certain medications are prescribed that help remove inflammation and reduce symptoms. But it is necessary not only to drink pills: you need proper nutrition, exercise to restore the organs completely.

Drug treatment depends on the cause of pulmonary pleurisy, namely:

• If the disease is caused by pneumonia or acute bronchitis, then it must be treated with antibiotics;
• Tuberculosis requires a special regimen.
• For pleurisy pain, medications with acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are used.

The type of drug depends on the cause of the disease. If it is infectious, antibiotics are used, if allergic - anti-allergic drugs.

In the early stage of fibrinous pleurisy of the lungs, it is recommended to use semi-alcoholic warming compresses, electrophoresis with calcium chloride.

In the treatment of exudative pleurisy of the lungs, physiotherapy is carried out in the resolution phase (resorption of exudate) in order to accelerate the disappearance of exudate, reduce pleural adhesions.

In case of an exacerbation, patients are prescribed heating the chest with infrared rays, ultraviolet irradiation of the chest, daily applications of paraffin. After the acute inflammation subsides - electrophoresis of calcium and iodine. A month after recovery, water procedures, exercise therapy, manual and vibration massage are shown.

Patients need to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. Also, the patient is prescribed a special diet, which is based on many vitamins and proteins.

After discharge from the hospital, patients need to perform breathing exercises prescribed by a doctor to restore full lung activity. Moderate physical activity, long walks in the fresh air are shown, yoga is very useful. Being in a coniferous forest is especially useful for convalescents.

How to treat pleurisy with folk remedies

It is important to understand that it is impossible to treat pleurisy with folk remedies alone, since the disease can rapidly progress and lead to respiratory failure and suppuration of effusion.

Treatment of pleurisy of the lungs with folk remedies consists in the use of compresses and the use of infusions, decoctions, tinctures.

1. Beet juice helps with pleurisy. It is squeezed out of fresh root vegetables, mixed with honey. 100 g of juice requires 2 tablespoons of honey. Take the remedy 2 times a day after meals. Each time you need to prepare a fresh portion, the composition does not need to be stored.
2. Try to treat pleurisy with an infusion of such herbs as: mint, dried cress, coltsfoot take a glass three times a day.
3. Boil the roots (0.5 tsp) and rhizomes (0.5 tsp) in the Caucasian hellebore in 0.5 liters of water, so that after evaporation you get a glass of liquid. Take 0.5 tsp. three times a day. The broth is useful for the treatment of pleurisy, tuberculosis, heart failure.
4. Mix honey and onion juice in equal portions (instead of onions, you can take black radish juice) - one tablespoon twice a day for the treatment of pleurisy.
5. Infusion of plantain leaf large or ordinary. For half a liter of boiling water, add 2 tbsp. l. dried plant. The liquid is filtered and drunk warm, 100-120 ml 4 times a day. The drink is harmless, has a healing and antibacterial character.

Prevention

It is very simple: it is necessary to adequately treat the primary infectious disease, monitor the diet, alternate physical activity with quality rest, not overheat and not succumb to excessive cooling.

Remember that pleurisy is a consequence of another disease. Never interrupt treatment halfway through simple laziness or lack of time, and always try to avoid situations that can provoke an infection.

Of all the diseases of the respiratory system, the most severe are inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, and of them pleurisy is a dangerous form of inflammation.

In this article we will look at what it is, talk about the symptoms and treatment of pulmonary pleurisy.

Is it possible to treat and how to treat inflammation of the pleura with folk remedies.

What is pleurisy

Pulmonary pleurisy is an inflammatory process in the pleural membrane, leading to the accumulation of fluid contents (exudate or fibrin) in the pleural cavity.

It arises as a pathological condition, after various infectious or adjacent formations. Very rarely occurs as an independent disease.

The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the surface of the lungs. It consists of a pair of petals that line the diaphragm, mediastinum, and the lining of the chest cavity.

Parapneumonic pleurisy begins acutely, in the presence of pneumonia. Disturbed by a wet cough, chest pain when breathing. The amount of exudate is small.

Metapneumonic occurs more often in weakened bedridden patients. It begins after pneumonia, is difficult to treat and in most cases is complicated by pleural empyema (pyothorax, purulent pleurisy).

Causes of occurrence

Lower respiratory tract infections often contribute to the development of pulmonary pleurisy. From the primary focus with pneumonia, , pathogenic organisms through the bloodstream or lymph enter the pleural cavity and cause inflammation.

Infection of the pleura can occur during intracavitary surgery or with trauma to the chest.

Concomitant diseases of non-infectious origin can also cause the development of pleurisy. With oncological diseases, metastases are released, when they enter the pleura, they contribute to the release of exudate. very often complicated by effusion pleurisy.

When severe immune system disorders ( , hemorrhagic vasculitis , ) develops exudative pleurisy. With such lesions, it is bilateral.

In older men, pleurisy can begin due to inflammation of the pancreas. In acute, enzymes have a toxic effect on the pleural membrane, causing the formation of fibrin.

Pulmonary pleurisy symptoms

The symptoms of pleurisy depend on the form of inflammation and its stage.

The main symptom of dry pleurisy is a cough that causes chest pain... If the patient lies on the sore side, the discomfort decreases. Observed hyperthermia to subfebrile numbers, dry cough, general weakness... When breathing, there is a lag in the chest in breathing from the pathological side.

Exudative pleurisy develops sharply, appears fever, sweating, symptoms of intoxication... There is a rapid increase in shortness of breath, a feeling of heaviness in the chest. It is difficult for the patient to lie down, he takes a forced sitting position.

Symptoms of serous-fibrinous pleurisy. It is characterized by the accumulation of serous exudate. At first it develops asymptomatically, then painful breathing appears, dry unproductive cough, hyperthermia,

The symptom of hemorrhagic pleurisy is feeling, severe intoxication, pallor of the skin, cough with blood streaks.

Purulent pleurisy characterizes persistent temperature increase up to 39-40 C, pain with, weakness, sweating.

Tuberculous pleurisy is characterized by irregularities low-grade fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, muscle pain... Often becomes empyema of the lungs.

Complications

With the timely identification of the cause of the disease and proper treatment, the disease ends with a full recovery.

In some cases, the following complications develop:

• Adhesive process in the lungs... It is a scar formation in the connective tissue of the pleura. More often formed after exudative pleurisy. With multiple adhesions, the respiratory system of the lungs is disturbed.
• Formation of pleural moorings... They are characterized by fibrinous layers on the surface of the pleura. Occur both after effusion pleurisy and after dry. More often localized in the upper lungs. Patients with this complication are worried about shortness of breath, heaviness in the chest during exercise.
• Pneumosclerosis... The process by which the lung tissue is replaced with coarse connective tissue. In areas of pneumosclerosis, the lung tissue loses its elasticity and does not perform a gas exchange function.
• Empyema of the pleura... A dangerous complication of pleurisy, leading to gangrene of the lung. It is characterized by high body temperature up to 40 C, unbearable chest pain. Heart and respiratory failure develops. Which is most often fatal.
• Respiratory failure... Suppurative inflammation or extensive inflammation of the pleura can cause respiratory distress.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures include:

• examination and questioning of the patient;
• clinical examination;
• x-ray examination and computed tomography;
• ultrasonography;
• general blood analysis;
• pleural puncture.

When examining a patient with pleurisy of the lungs, asymmetry of the chest is visible, the diseased part lags behind in the act of breathing. With a large accumulation of effusion, cyanosis of the skin may be observed, since the blood supply in the cervical veins is disrupted due to compression. The sore side of the chest looks more voluminous.

With percussion, a weakening of the percussion sound is noted, and the upper border is an oblique Damoiseau line, which is clearly visible on radiography. When listening to the lungs with a phonendoscope, a pleural friction noise is clearly audible, it looks like the creak of snow. Breathing in places of accumulation of fluid is sharply weakened.

On radiography symptoms of exudative pleurisy of the lungs are displayed as intense uniform darkening in the lower lobes of the organ. The high standing of the diaphragm is observed with a small accumulation of fluid. The mediastinum is displaced to the healthy lung. When taking a picture in lateroposition (the patient lies on his side), there is a horizontal displacement of the exudate.

Non-effusion pleurisy of the lungs in the picture is manifested by intense shadows of a heterogeneous structure, the sinuses are not defined. Pleural mobility is sharply limited.

In the general analysis of blood with pleurisy, there is a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left, an increase in the level of leukocytes, an increase. Eosinophilia and monocytosis are characteristic of tuberculous pleurisy.

Blood chemistry shows the presence of fibrinogen and high levels of sialic acids.

The main informative diagnostic method is thoracocentesis (pleural puncture)... The patient is punctured in the pleural cavity under local anesthesia in order to take fluid. Exudate examination helps to determine the form of pleurisy and the infectious agent of the disease.

With tuberculous, traumatic pleurisy, erythrocytes are visible in the exudate. The color can range from pink to deep red.

With a purulent process, the exudate is cloudy, gray or gray-green in color; when gangrene has begun, it may have a fetid odor. If the exudate is transparent and odorless, serous pleurisy is diagnosed.

On ultrasound examination, there is an increased echogenicity in the place of accumulation of fluid, a thickening of the pleura.

Pleurisy treatment

The main principle in the treatment of pleurisy is the identification and treatment of the underlying disease. Patients with pleurisy of the lungs need a balanced diet high in vitamins. Shown strict bed rest.

Surgery ( thoracocentesis)

Surgery for pleurisy in adults is necessary for purulent inflammation.

Thoracocentesis- is an emergency measure. With a large amount of effusion, a pleural puncture is performed to free the cavity from fluid.

The procedure takes place in several stages.

No more than 1 liter of exudate is removed at a time. Pumping out large amounts of exudate can lead to acute heart failure and sudden expansion of the lung.

If necessary, antibacterial drugs are injected into the cavity. After the end of the procedure, the chest is tightly bandaged to prevent collapse.

Drug treatment

• Antibacterial therapy. Pulmonary pleurisy of infectious etiology is treated with antibiotics. Usually applied amoxiclav, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, sumamed... In the treatment of tuberculous pleurisy, it is used rifampicin, isoniazid.
• Corticosteroid therapy... Treatment of pleurisy for autoimmune pathologies is the use of hormonal drugs. Applicable prednisone.

Also in the therapy of pleurisy, symptomatic agents are used:

• Antitussive drugs. Patients with pleurisy are worried about a dry, painful cough. Therefore, they are prescribed drugs that inhibit the cough reflex codeine, sinecode.
• Diuretic drugs. To remove excess fluid from the body, it is necessary to use diuretics - furosemide.
• ... To eliminate pain and relieve inflammation, drugs are used - butadione, ibuprofen, analgin.
• Cardiac glycosides. To improve the contractile function of the myocardium - korglikon.
• Bronchodilators... To expand the bronchi, appoint euphylline, berodual... They relax the muscles of the bronchi, improve the function of the respiratory muscles.
• Infusion therapy... With severe intoxication, use an intravenous solution Ringer's.

Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapeutic procedures are effective in treating pleurisy. With their help, the evacuation of the effusion occurs faster, and adhesions also dissolve.

Physiotherapy procedures include:

• electrophoresis with;
• warming up;
• various compresses.

If pleurisy is caused by tumor metastasis, chemotherapy is given.

Pleurisy treatment should take place in a hospital under the supervision of specialists. The therapy lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.

Treatment of pleurisy of the lungs with folk remedies

The combination of traditional medicine and treatment of pleurisy with folk remedies will help to cope with this disease more effectively and quickly.

Treatment of pleurisy with folk remedies is to alleviate its symptoms.

Anise-based folk recipes help to eliminate cough, have a bronchodilatory effect:

• Boil 1 teaspoon of anise fruit with 1 cup boiling water. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Drink ¼ glass 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Tuberculous pleurisy has the ability to recur repeatedly, so patients should be under close medical supervision for 2 months.

Pulmonary pleurisy in the presence of oncology also ends unfavorably. Metastases destroy the pleura, leading to severe intoxication and the development of respiratory failure.

Interesting

Update: December 2018

Each lung is enclosed in a two-layer bag (pleura), between the leaves of which blood, edematous or inflammatory fluid can accumulate as a result of various diseases. This condition in medicine is called pleurisy, which in the form of an independent disease is extremely rare, usually this process is a complication of such diseases and conditions as:

• pulmonary tuberculosis
• connective tissue diseases - autoimmune (rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus)
• allergic reactions (pleurisy)
• hemorrhage during trauma and operations on the chest
• acute bacterial pneumonia (usually pneumococcal)
• cardiovascular, renal,
• oncological processes, leukemia
• infectious diseases (brucellosis, syphilis)
• fungal lung disease
• dystrophy from prolonged fasting
• in acute pancreatitis, the development of enzymatic pleurisy is possible

Each of these conditions reduces the body's defenses, disrupts the normal course of metabolic processes, and changes the composition of blood and lymph. The pleura contains a well-developed capillary network of lymphatic and blood vessels, which are the source of fibrin or fluid in its cavity.

However, the most common causes of fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity and the development of pleurisy today are tuberculosis and oncology. An independent and very dangerous disease is pleural emipyema - purulent pleurisy. Our article is about pleurisy, symptoms and treatment of this insidious disease.

Types of pleurisy

Dry pleurisy

Dry pleurisy symptoms

Pleurisy has a number of specific symptoms. At the same time, the clinic of dry pleurisy differs significantly from pleurisy with effusion. The clinical picture is complemented by the symptoms of the underlying disease.

The onset of the disease is sudden, patients can accurately indicate the time of onset of the disease. The infectious process can be accompanied by a high fever. Fibrinous pleurisy is characterized by a sharp pain syndrome on the affected side of the lung. Breathing is shallow, a painful cough appears, all this is accompanied by severe pain that arises from the contact of the inflamed pleura. Pain sensations increase when the body is tilted in the opposite direction, with a deep breath or cough.

The patient tries to lie on his healthy side, which slightly eases his suffering. With the localization of the inflammatory process near the diaphragm, pain can occur in the upper abdomen, in the heart, in the neck, which creates the basis for erroneous diagnoses.

Diagnostics

On examination, the diseased half of the chest lags behind in the act of breathing, this can be seen by the movement of the shoulder blades. When listening to the lungs, a very characteristic sound of pleural friction is determined.
Radiography for acute dry pleurisy does not provide sufficient information. Laboratory tests will characterize the underlying disease.

Dry pleurisy treatment

• To relieve pain, pain relievers are prescribed analgin, ketans (see the list of NSAIDs in the article), tramadol, if these drugs are ineffective, in a hospital setting, narcotic analgesic drugs can be administered.
• Warming semi-alcoholic or camphor compresses, iodine mesh are effective.
• Prescribe drugs that suppress cough - sinekod, codelac, libexin (see).
• Since the root cause is most often tuberculosis, after confirming the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, specific treatment is carried out in the anti-tuberculosis dispensary.

For reference:

• According to the WHO, the death rate from tuberculosis and the number of tuberculosis patients (including tuberculous pleurisy) in Russia is 8 times higher than in European countries.
• Prisoners with tuberculosis, when leaving prison, as a rule, do not go to doctors and do not register, infecting 10-20 people a year.
• Every year in Russia 25,000 people die of tuberculosis and 120,000 get sick.
• The worst thing is that every 10 patients have multiple drug resistance, that is, an almost incurable form of pulmonary tuberculosis and its extrapulmonary forms (kidneys, joints, spine, genitals, eyes).

Exudative pleurisy and hydrothorax

Symptoms of exudative pleurisy

Unlike fibrous pleurisy, pleurisy pain with various types of effusion is not the leading symptom, except for chest injuries, therefore, signs of fluid accumulation appear only a few days after the onset of the disease.

Exudative pleurisy begins gradually, the symptoms grow slowly, a person complains of headache, fever, weakness, a feeling of heaviness in the affected side of the chest, with gradually increasing shortness of breath, which worries the patient even at rest (see).

Shortness of breath is caused by a decrease in the volume of the lungs, due to compression of their enlarged pleural cavity. The pulse quickens, the face turns pale, the nasolabial triangle takes on a bluish tint, the veins of the neck swell. In the place of accumulation of effusion, intercostal spaces may bulge. There is a lag in the affected half during breathing.

In severe conditions caused by insufficiency of the heart, liver, kidneys, the process can develop symmetrically, pleurisy is noted on both sides. Then there will be no bright symptoms characteristic of pleurisy, although the patient's general condition will worsen.

The most common cause of exudative pleurisy in adults remains tuberculosis, and in 70% of cases it begins as croupous pneumonia, with fever 39C, pain, general weakness, and chills.

Diagnostics

Radiography will be the leading criterion, radiological signs of pleurisy or hydrothorax are quite eloquent. At auscultation of the lungs, in contrast to dry pleurisy, the affected side of the chest is "mute". Laboratory values \u200b\u200bwill be consistent with the underlying disease. Only with hemorrhagic pleurisy can there be signs of anemia (anemia).

Treatment

Exudative pleurisy is treated in a hospital. With the edematous form of the underlying disease, an unloading diet is prescribed that restricts fluid and salt. With purulent pleurisy, antibacterial therapy (broad-spectrum antibiotics), NSAIDs, pain relievers and antihistamines are required, which reduce edema and have an antiallergic effect (see).

If the volume of the effusion is large enough, as a result of which marked violations of the respiratory and cardiovascular function are noted, the pleural cavity is urgently punctured and the contents are evacuated. The material obtained must be examined to clarify its nature and the main diagnosis. Perhaps the introduction of antibiotics, prednisolone or hydrocortisone into the pleural cavity, to reduce the phenomena of exudation. A drainage system is installed for several days.

When in the postoperative period the accumulation of fluid in the chest should not be considered a complication?

If an operation was performed to remove a lung or part of it, an empty space forms in the chest cavity, which is filled with fluid. "Nature abhors a void", this is a kind of protective-compensatory reaction to maintain a stable pressure in the chest cavity, which ensures the normal placement of the remaining organs.

Neither the heart nor the remaining lungs move, allowing them to function normally. In the process of recovery, part of the fluid is absorbed, part is replaced by fibrin, forming adhesions. In this case, pleurisy is not a complication. In other operations, the appearance of pleurisy is considered a complication, the resulting fluid is removed and appropriate treatment is carried out.

Forecast

The prognosis of pleurisy is favorable, although it directly depends on the leading disease. Inflammatory, infectious, post-traumatic pleurisy is successfully cured and does not affect the quality of later life. Unless, during later life, pleural adhesions will be noted on radiographs.

The exception is dry tuberculous pleurisy, as a result of which fibrous deposits can calcify over time, forming the so-called armored pleurisy. The lung is enclosed in a "stone shell", which interferes with its full functioning and leads to chronic respiratory failure.

To prevent the formation of adhesions that form after the removal of fluid from the pleural cavity, after treatment, when the acute period subsides, the patient should undergo rehabilitation procedures - this is physiotherapy, manual and vibration massage, it is necessary to carry out daily, using the Frolov breathing simulator).