Pleurisy is caused by what?

Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
Updated on February 11, 2025
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Pleurisy is often caused by various pathogens, such as viral infections, which can lead to pleurisy termed viral pleurisy. Viral pleurisy typically presents with noticeable chest pain, and may even be accompanied by tenderness in the chest wall. Similarly, bacterial infections can also cause pleurisy. If the infection is a purulent bacterial infection, it is known as purulent pleurisy. Generally, those with purulent pleurisy experience high fever symptoms. Another common cause of pleurisy is tuberculosis infection, known as tuberculous pleurisy. Typical symptoms of tuberculous pleurisy include low-grade fever in the afternoon, night sweats, and may also include chest tightness and chest pain.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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The dangers of secondary recurrence of pleurisy

Pleurisy is very common in clinical settings, with most cases caused by the invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the pleural cavity, leading to inflammatory lesions. Patients generally experience pleurisy symptoms, and if their immune function is weak, some may relapse if not careful. Therefore, for patients recovering from pleurisy, it is essential to strengthen their immune system and pay attention to balancing work and rest, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, which can greatly reduce the possibility of pleurisy recurrence. If pleurisy recurs, the clinical symptoms may worsen compared to the initial infection or may present similarly to the initial symptoms. Generally, if pleurisy recurs, there might be severe complications due to adhesions in the pleural cavity, possibly leading to persistent chest pain symptoms.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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The difference between pleurisy and peritonitis

Peritonitis generally refers to a severe disease caused by bacterial infection, chemical irritation, or injury, most of which are secondary peritonitis originating from infections and necrosis of abdominal organs, perforations, trauma, etc. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, tense abdominal muscles, tenderness, and board-like abdomen. Pleurisy generally refers to the inflammation of the pleura caused by pathogenic microorganisms, also known as pleuritis, which can be accompanied by pleural effusion. Pleurisy is commonly caused by tuberculosis. Generally, the symptoms of peritonitis are more severe than those of pleurisy. Both pleurisy and peritonitis require active, timely, and regular treatment.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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How to treat pleurisy without effusion?

Pleurisy is a very common type of inflammatory response of the pleura caused by pathogenic factors in clinical practice. In clinical settings, some patients may develop pleural effusion, while others may not. Therefore, the treatment for pleurisy without pleural effusion mainly involves symptomatic management with anti-tuberculosis drugs. Typically, the treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs should follow a regimen that is early, combined, adequate, regular, and complete. For the treatment of such pleurisy patients, it is known that most cases are caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, when treating such patients, it is crucial to strictly follow the treatment regimen of anti-tuberculosis medications to effectively control the uncomfortable symptoms caused by pleurisy.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is it normal to occasionally feel chest tightness with pleuritis?

Patients with pleurisy occasionally experience chest tightness, which is a very common clinical symptom. It is important to clarify that in clinical cases, pleurisy is mostly due to infection of the pleural cavity by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causing clinical symptoms such as fever, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Therefore, during an acute episode of pleurisy, some patients may have a severe pleural infection, and possibly a large amount of pleural effusion, which inevitably leads to symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness. For patients with pleurisy, if it is tuberculous, it is crucial to provide anti-tuberculosis medication as early as possible for symptomatic treatment. A lengthy course of treatment is usually required to effectively control the discomfort caused by pleurisy.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms of pleurisy?

Pleurisy often presents with symptoms of chest pain, which tends to worsen with deep breathing. Patients with pleurisy may also experience a feeling of tightness in the chest, possibly caused by a significant accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity due to the pleurisy. Sometimes, this tightness could also be due to severe chest pain that makes the patient reluctant to inhale deeply. Patients with pleurisy are likely to exhibit symptoms of fever. It is important to note that pleurisy caused by different factors may have distinct clinical features. For example, purulent pleurisy often presents with high fever, while tuberculous pleurisy may show symptoms of tuberculosis intoxication like low-grade fever in the afternoon and night sweats. However, some cases of tuberculous pleurisy might present with high fever, and others may not have noticeable fever at all. Additionally, viral pleurisy usually features prominently painful symptoms in the chest.