FREE ESSAY ON PLEURISY

PLEURISY

Pleurisy
Pleurisy, also called pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura -- the moist,
double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. The condition
can make breathing extremely painful and, sometimes, is associated with the development
of pleural effusion, in which the area between the membrane's layers, called the pleural
space, fills with excess fluid.
Viral infection is probably the most common cause of pleurisy. Other diseases that can
cause pleurisy are lung infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, and other
diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary
embolisms. Congestive heart failure is a common cause of pleural effusion. Other causes
include chest injuries and cancer. 
Pleurisy and pleural effusion are generally only as serious as the underlying disease. If
you have either of these conditions, you may already be undergoing treatment for the
underlying disease; if not, seek medical attention immediately. 
Symptoms
Pleurisy: 
A? Severe, fleeting, sharp pain in your chest, often on one side only, when breathing
deeply, coughing, moving or sneezing. 
A? Severe chest pain that goes away when you hold your breath. 
Pleural Effusion: 
A? Shortness of breath. 
A? A dry cough. 
Causes
The double-layered pleura protects and lubricates the surface of the lungs as they
inflate and deflate within the rib cage. Normally, a thin, fluid-filled gap -- the
pleural space -- allows the two layers of the pleural membrane to slide gently past each
other. But when these layers become inflamed by the conditions listed above, their
roughened surfaces rub painfully together like two pieces of sandpaper with every breath,
sneeze and cough. This condition is known as pleurisy. 
In some cases of pleurisy, excess fluid seeps into the pleural space, resulting in
pleural effusion. This fluid buildup usually has a lubricating effect, relieving the pain
associated with pleurisy as it reduces friction between the membrane's layers. But at the
same time, the added fluid puts tremendous pressure on the lungs, reducing their ability
to move freely and causing shortness of breath. In some cases of pleural effusion, this
excess liquid becomes infected, causing a condition known as empyema. 
A pleural effusion can also occur without pleurisy, as is the case in congestive heart
failure. 
Diagnostic and Test Procedures
To diagnose pleurisy, a physician will listen to your chest through a stethoscope as you
breathe. If this examination reveals pleural friction rub -- the abrasive sound of the
pleura's two layers sliding against each other -- the diagnosis is clear. Pleural
friction rub produces a scraping, raspy sound that occurs at the end of your inhalation
and the beginning of your exhalation, and it comes from the area directly over the
pleural inflammation. A decrease in breath sounds and a change in their quality may allow
your doctor to diagnose a pleural effusion. 
Your doctor may also take X-rays of your chest, which will be normal if you have pleurisy
but show the fluid due to a pleural effusion. If there is fluid present, your doctor may
draw a sample of pleural fluid for analysis. After injecting your back or chest with a
local anesthetic, the physician will use a syringe to extract the fluid. The doctor will
run tests on the sample to determine the underlying cause of the fluid buildup. 
Treatment
Conventional medicine usually treats the underlying disease that causes pleurisy or
pleural effusion. In some cases of pleural effusion, however, excess fluid must be
drained. There are also treatments to help relieve some of the discomfort associated with
these conditions. 
Conventional Medicine
In addition to antibiotics and other appropriate medications aimed at treating the
underlying disease, your physician will probably prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or
analgesics, such as aspirin, to remedy the inflammation. Sometimes, a codeine-based cough
syrup will be prescribed to control a painful cough. 
In the case of pleural effusion, your physician will direct treatment towards the
underlying cause of the fluid. If the amount of pleural fluid is excessive, the doctor
may drain it through a tube inserted in your chest, a procedure that requires
hospitalization. 
A lung injury or infection can lead to inflammation of the pleura, a thin, two-ply
membrane that encases the lungs and lines the inside of the rib cage. Between the layers
of this membrane, is a fluid-filled space that normally cushions the contact between them
during respiration. When inflamed, however, the surfaces can become roughened and tender;
breathing forces them to rub together, intensifying the pain.
Bibliography
This is a project i did on the disease Pleuisy. Have fun.