Pleurisy

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Respiratory system overview

Pleuritis; Pleuritic chest pain

Treatment depends on what is causing the pleurisy. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Viral infections normally run their course without medications. Fluid in the lungs may be removed by thoracentesis and checked for signs of infection. The pain of pleurisy can often be controlled with acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

Recovery depends on what is causing the pleurisy.

• Breathing difficulty
• Complications associated with the original illness
• Collapsed lung due to thoracentesis

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of pleurisy. If you have breathing difficulty or the skin turns blue, seek immediate medical care.

Review Date: 02/13/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.