lung and airway disorders
Pleural Effusion
Symptoms of Pleural Effusion
Many people with pleural effusion have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms, regardless of the type of fluid in the pleural space or its cause, are Shortness of breath Chest pain Chest pain is usually of a type called pleuritic pain (the term pleurisy is no longer or only rarely used). Pleuritic pain may be felt only when the person breathes deeply or coughs, or it may be felt continuously but may be worsened by deep breathing and coughing. The pain is usually felt in the chest wall right over the site of the inflammation or infection that caused the effusion. However, the pain may be felt also or only in the upper abdominal region or neck and shoulder, which is called referred pain (see figure). Pleuritic pain can be caused by disorders other than pleural effusion. Pleuritic chest pain due to a pleural effusion may disappear as fluid accumulates. Large amounts of fluid can cause difficulty in expanding one or both lungs when breathing, causing shortness of breath. Cancer Overview of Pneumonia None Injury, such as a Rib Fractures or bruise Pulmonary Embolism (PE) None Viral Pleuritis None Overview of Pancreatitis None Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) None Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (lupus) Tuberculosis (TB) None Medication reactions 