Pleurisy

The double tin lining which is present in between the rib cage and lungs is known by the name of pleura. Pleurisy is a medical condition when the pleural linings develop irritation due to the presence of some disease or infection. The other term which can be used for denoting pleurisy is pleuritis.

Pleurisy or pleuritis is acute in nature. So the treatment of this condition is easier. The normal symptoms which a person who is affected with pleuritis is the presence of any difficulties associated with breathing and discomfort in the areas around the chest region.

Symptoms

The infection of pleurisy in a person is characterised mainly by the presence of a short and sharp pain in chest region while breathing. This pain normally appears at the last stage of breathing.

The other symptoms that can be experienced by a person infected with pleurisy are severe pain in the chest while coughing, fever, the breathing will follow a shallow and rapid pattern and the affected area when touched, even very lightly, will cause discomfort to the person.

If the symptoms persist for more than some four or days or if the person has difficulties while breathing, then the doctor must be visited immediately.

There are many other conditions which can lead to pleurisy. If a person suffering from common cold has pleurisy, then the symptoms that he may exhibit are sore throats, persistent coughing and persistent headaches.

Causes

There are two lings of pleura which are present in between the ribcage and lungs. One of these two is attached to the ribcage and the other one to the lungs. The separation of these linings is done by the presence of a fluid in a thin layer which acts as lubricant. It also moves while a person breathes in and breathes out.

When the irritation of the pleura occurs, the layers tend to become uneven. This in turn leads to the fluid developing stickiness. So the pleural layers start rubbing together leading to the development of pain and discomfort in the chest region.

The major trigger for the pleurisy is the presence of any viral infection like influenza or common cold. Pleurisy can also be triggered by many other conditions affecting the lungs. These include pulmonary embolus or blood clot as well as pneumonia.

In certain cases, autoimmune conditions of the body can also cause pleurisy. One of the factors which may trigger pleurisy is the presence of certain types of cancer.

Treatment

Pleurisy does not have any specific treatment because pleurisy may occur in people who have some other medical conditions. But the pain and discomfort that a person feels on his chest can be relieved by administering ibuprofen as well as aspirin. The inflammation which is present may also be eased by the usage of these.

But in certain cases of severe infections, antibiotics may be advised to be used for a week or ten days.

Under normal conditions, the fluid that gets collected clears off on its own. But if that does not happen, then a surgery must be done to remove the fluid collected.