In pleurisy – colloquially called pleurisy – (synonyms: Escaped fluid in the lung; Escaped pleurisy; Adhesive pleurisy; Acute pleurisy; Acute pleurisy; Bacterial pleurisy; Bacterial pleuritis exsudativa; Bacterial pleuritis with effusion; Bacterial serous pleurisy; Basal pleurisy; Bilateral pleurisy; Pleurisy; Chronic pleurisy; Exudative pleurisy; Fibrinous pleurisy; Pleural plaque; Pleural inflammation; Pleural effusion; Pleural retraction; Pleurisy; Pleurisy caused by pneumococcus; Pleurisy caused by streptococcus; Pleuritis exsudativa; Pleurisy with effusion; Pleurisy with adhesions; Pleurisy sicca; Pleurorrhea; Pleurisy; Serofibrinous pleurisy; Serous pleurisy; Subacute pleurisy; Dry pleurisy; Plural: Pleuritides; ICD-10 R09. 1 Pleurisy o.n.A./J90.-: Pleurisy with effusion) is the inflammation of the pleura (Greek πλευρά “flank,” “rib,” German Brustfell, rib/lung pleura).
Two forms of pleurisy can be distinguished:
- Pleuritis sicca – dry course of pleurisy; it is associated with severe pain.
- Pleuritis exsudativa – moist course form of pleuritis; pain is less during breathing than in pleuritis sicca
According to the cause, pleurisy can be divided into:
- Infectious forms – caused by bacteria, viruses or mycoses (fungi).
- Non-infectious forms – occur, for example, in the context of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pulmonary embolism, pneumonia (pneumonia) and others in rheumatic diseases; they can also occur postoperatively, post-traumatically or paraneoplastic (in connection with a tumor disease)
Based on the time course, pleurisy can be divided into the following forms:
- Acute pleurisy
- Chronic pleurisy
Pleurisy can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: Pleuritides lead to a significant impairment of the general condition due to their painfulness. The prognosis depends on the underlying disease and its therapy. In most cases, pleurisy treated early heals without consequences. If treatment is not adequate, complications such as pleural rash can occur. In this case, the lung becomes firmly attached to the chest and can no longer expand freely when breathing.
