Forms of progression

Inflammation of the pleura can present itself in different forms. In general, the classification is made according to the fluid surrounding the pleura into dry or wet pleurisy. The symptomatic symptoms are significantly influenced by this.

Dry pleurisy is usually caused by pathological changes in the lungs. The leaves of the pleura slide past each other with difficulty, thus creating increased frictional resistance, which causes severe breath-related pain. As a result, the affected persons usually adopt a relieving posture and shallow breathing to reduce the pain.

An accompanying effusion in the area of the pleura is missing. The dry pleurisy can be noticed by the examiner with a stethoscope by a creaking noise caused by friction. In the case of wet pleurisy, an effusion is formed within the so-called pleural gap, which is located between the lung and the pleura.

Often the moist form develops on the floor of a previously dry inflammation of the pleura.The pain is reduced by the liquid film that forms and now separates the two leaves that rub against each other. Depending on how much fluid is in the gap, the damp pleurisy can lead to a feeling of pressure in the chest, difficult breathing and even shortness of breath. In very rare cases, the pleurisy can lead to a psychological form of the pleurisy.

In this case, the typical symptoms of pleurisy develop without a recognizable cause. The influence of psychological processes, such as sadness, stress or depressive moods can be reflected in the form of these physical illnesses. This topic might also be of interest to you: Pleural Mesothelioma

Infection

There are two different forms of pleurisy (inflammation of the costal pleura). There is an infectious and a non-infectious form of pleurisy. The non-infectious form is not infectious and can occur in the course of other inflammatory processes in the body.

It is therefore possible that it is caused by an inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). It is also possible that a non-infectious pleurisy inflammation is a concomitant symptom of a pulmonary embolism or a tumor of the pleura. Patients suffering from rheumatism can also develop non-infectious pleurisy on the basis of their underlying rheumatic disease.

The infectious form of pleurisy is contagious depending on the pathogen. The pathogens can be bacteria, viruses or fungi. Bacterial pathogens are usually the same as those that cause pneumonia, so this form is just as infectious as pneumonia.

The tuberculosis pathogen can also cause pleurisy. These bacteria are only highly infectious if it can be easily spread, for example by coughing. Direct contact with viruses also increases the risk of infection, but this can be greatly reduced by regular and thorough disinfection. In the case of infection with fungi, the risk of infection is generally only increased for contact persons with a defective immune system.