What is pleural effusion (Water in the lungs)?
What is pleural effusion (Water in the lungs)? Pleural effusion, sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and therefore the inside the thoracic cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing. Normally, a little amount of fluid is present within the pleura. types of Pleural Diseases 1. Hemothorax: Accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity. 2. Pleural effusion: Accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural cavity; this accumulation pushes against the lung and prevents full expansion with breathing. This is one of the most common problems associated with the pleura. 3. Empyema: The accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity. This is a type of pleural effusion that is usually associated with pneumonia (an infection in the adjacent lung). The symptoms are those of pneumonia (cough, fever) in addition to shortness of bre...