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 breath and impaired breathing.

4. Pleural tumors: Malignant tumors arising from the pleura (e.g. mesothelioma) or spreading to the pleura (metastatic) from another site, and benign tumors arising from the pleura.

5. Pleurisy: Inflammation of the pleura

6.Pneumothorax: Accumulation of air within the pleural cavity between the outside of the lung and the inside of the rib cage.

 

What are the symptoms of pleural effusion?

 

Some patients with pleural effusion have no symptoms, with the condition discovered on a chest x-ray that is performed for another reason. The patient may have unrelated symptoms due to the disease or condition that has caused the effusion. Symptoms of pleural effusion include:

 

1. Chest pain

2. Dry, nonproductive cough

3. Orthopnea (the inability to breathe easily unless the person is sitting up straight or standing erect)

4. Dyspnea (shortness of breath, or difficult, labored breathing)

Dr. Neetu Jain

Dr. Neetu Jain is a specialist in this field she joined as senior resident at All India institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and subsequently worked there for 7 years. She has not only worked for patient care but is a dedicated academician with more than 30 publications in her name in national and international journals.

Dr. Neetu Jain is MBBS, DNB, FCCP (USA), EDRM (EUROPE), FICCM is  pulmonologist, critical care and sleep Medicine.

For booking your appointment

Mobile no. 91-8287429854

Email id - neetusms@yahoo.com

 

You can also visit her website for more information :- https://drneetujainpulmo.com/