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Symptoms & Signs Index |
| Pleurisy | |
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Definition: Pleurisy is swelling of the linings, pleura, around the lungs marked by pain in the chest with breathing (called also pleuritis). |
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Medical terms related to
Pleurisy : Pleurisy, Chest Pain with Breathing, Pain, Chest with Breathing, Shortness of Breath |
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Common
causes of Pleurisy: o Congestion (Congestive heart failure, CHF) o Infections (bacterial, mycobacteria, fungus, parasites, or viruses) o Medications (e.g. Hydralazine, Procan, Dilantin) o Trauma (Rib fractures or injury from instruments, surgery) o Rheumatoid Arthritis o Pneumonia o Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A connective tissue disease of unknown cause that occurs chiefly in women characterized by fever, skin rash, arthritis, acute hemolytic anemia, small hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, inflammation of the pericardium, and in serious cases by involvement of the kidneys and central nervous system. o Cirrhosis of the liver: Fibrosis of the liver and the formation of regenerative nodules that is usually caused by chronic progressive damages to the liver (e.g. alcohol abuse or hepatitis).
Other Causes of
Pleurisy: |
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Call your
doctor if Pleurisy is
accompanied by: o Heavy smoking o Unexplained weight loss o Long history of exposure to asbestos |
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Diagnostic tests
that may be performed include: o Chest x-ray o Chest CT scan o Complete blood count o Coagulation studies such as PT or PTT o Bronchoscopy (examination of the lung by a camera) o Lung biopsy o Lung scan o Pulmonary arteriography o Sputum culture and smear |
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Medications
for Pleurisy may
include: o Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) o prednisone, Deltasone, Liquid Pred |
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| Diagnosis of Pleurisy, Reasons of Pleurisy, Prevention of Pleurisy, Definition of Pleurisy, Treatments for Pleurisy | |