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Treatment of exudative pleurisy at home. Treatment of exudative pleurisy: causes, symptoms and pleural puncture

Exudative pleurisy is a disease characterized by damage to the pleura with the subsequent formation of fluid of various natures in its cavity. Most often, this disease acts as a secondary factor of any pathological changes.

Causes of the disease

Most often, the disease is a complication of various pathological processes in the lungs.

Moreover, approximately 75 percent of cases of effusion pleurisy are diagnosed in patients suffering from tuberculosis.

It can also be caused by abscesses in the respiratory organs, pneumonia, and bronchitis. It follows that the infectious form can be caused by:

The aseptic type, as a rule, accompanies all kinds of pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathological processes, aggravating the development of diseases such as:

post-infarction autoallergic pericarditis;
Dressler's syndrome;
hypersensitive;
various allergic reactions.

Often accompanies systemic connective tissue diseases, including:

dermatomyositis;
scleroderma;
recurrent panniculitis;
diffuse fasciitis.

The post-traumatic form of exudative pleurisy occurs against the background of:

electrical burns;
radiotherapy;
rib damage;
violation of the integrity of the pleural cavity.

In addition, it may be etiologically associated with malignant neoplasms, including:

secondary tumors from neighboring organs (liver, ovaries, colon);
leukemia;
oncological changes in the pleura.

A large group consists of pleurisy caused by heart failure or blockage of the pulmonary artery. The hemorrhagic type can occur with various blood diseases, vitamin deficiency, and diathesis.

Classification of the disease

Considering the cause of development, exudative pleurisy can be distinguished:

Infectious;
Aseptic in nature.

Purulent. Leads to the accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity.
Serous. It provokes inflammation of the pleura with subsequent accumulation of serous exudate there.
Cholesterol. A rare type in which cholesterol crystals begin to accumulate in the exudate.
Serous-fibrinous. Children of school and preschool age are most susceptible to this type.
Putrid. It occurs due to the entry of putrefactive microorganisms into the pleura from the focus of gangrenous lung lesions.
Hemorrhagic. Accompanied by the formation of bloody.
Chile. The cause of its formation is damage to the thoracic lymphatic duct by a cancerous tumor.
Eosinophilic. A feature of this form is the accumulation of eosinophils in the pulmonary alveoli.
Mixed. Combines symptoms of several types of illness.

Taking into account the location, it may be:

diffuse;
left-handed;
encysted;
right-sided;
exudative pleurisy.

Based on the degree of flow, there are:

subacute;
acute;
chronic form.

Clinical picture and methods of treatment of the disease

In general, the severity and brightness of the symptoms of exudative pleurisy depends on the severity of the underlying disease, the rate and amount of fluid accumulation, and the type of pathogen. In most cases, the patient experiences:

The general condition of the patient is serious, especially with the purulent form of exudative pleurisy, which is accompanied by:

high temperature;
symptoms of intoxication;
chills.

Upon examination, you can see some that appears due to an increase in the size of the half where fluid accumulates. In addition, the affected area lags behind in the process of inhalation and exhalation.

While listening to the lungs, breathing at the site of exudate accumulation is not recorded or appears weakened. Under its influence, the heart begins to shift in the healthy direction, and tachycardia is present. In certain cases, low blood pressure is detected. The occurrence of intoxication leads to dizziness and fainting.

X-ray of the respiratory organs shows a uniform darkening, corresponding to the boundaries established in the process. In this case, the left-sided type of the disease is distinguished by the location of the darkening in the left lung.

Also, to a certain extent, a sign of the disease are various changes in the composition of the blood:

increase in the number of leukocytes,
eosinophilia,
increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Drug treatment of exudative pleurisy

Treatment primarily consists of, in addition, a medicinal effect on the primary pathology that caused the complications. In many cases, the disease is localized on the right, but more severe forms of the course are also possible - pleurisy of the left-sided and bilateral type.

If the volume of effusion is excessive, puncture or complete removal of exudate from the pleural space is performed, which helps lower the temperature, relieve shortness of breath, and straighten the damaged lung.

Surgery is indicated for the following symptomatic manifestations:

In modern medicine, it is practiced to remove no more than two liters of effusion in one procedure.

Drug therapy is also important in the treatment of exudative pleurisy. These include:

Antibacterial drugs, in case of infectious nature of the disease.
Anti-tuberculosis drugs if the source of infection is Koch's bacillus.
Cytostatic drugs for oncological diseases.
Steroid hormones in situations of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Diuretics for exudative pleurisy caused by cirrhosis of the liver.

Regardless of the cause of the disease, mucolytic, expectorant and antiallergic drugs are used. With the onset of the period of resorption of purulent effusion, additional therapeutic measures are added to the main course of treatment:

Suppuration that occurs in the pleural cavity is eliminated by introducing antibacterial drugs there. The chronic form of empyema is removed through surgery, performed during thoracostomy or lung decortication. A disease caused by a cancerous tumor requires treatment based on chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Treatment with folk remedies

Exudative pleurisy can be overcome by resorting to treatment with traditional medicine. However, you must first consult with your doctor, as various contraindications are possible.

But do not forget that you can turn to folk remedies only if there are no contraindications, since taking them can cause an allergic reaction and other complications.

Diagnosis, prognosis and measures to prevent disease

To establish the correct diagnosis, the doctor can resort to one of the types of diagnostics that exist today:

As a rule, with a disease of a nonspecific nature, even if its course is prolonged, the prognosis is quite favorable. A negative outcome is possible only with the development of pleurisy caused by a malignant neoplasm.

In a situation of tuberculosis etiology, the patient is sent to a specialized institution under the supervision of a phthisiatrician.

The main component of prevention, undoubtedly, is the timely treatment of pathological processes against the background of which pleurisy may develop. In addition, you should take measures to strengthen the immune system, try to avoid hypothermia and chest injuries; if you suffer from the disease, you need to undergo an X-ray examination after 3-5 months.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. It can occur in a dry (fibrin loss) or exudative (fluid effusion) form and is a severe pathology requiring medical intervention. Treatment of pleurisy with folk remedies is possible only as part of complex therapy after prior consultation with a doctor.

Traditional medicine methods

Methods for treating pleurisy with folk recipes include the following types of therapeutic effects:

Herbal medicine – decoctions and infusions based on medicinal plants that help suppress infection, relieve dry cough, and stimulate one’s own defenses.
Inhalations - relieve cough, thin sputum in case of combined damage to the respiratory system.
Compresses and rubbing warm the affected area, drain blood from the area of inflammation, which helps eliminate it.

The effectiveness of traditional methods is questioned by representatives of traditional medical science. At the same time, the latter refer to the lack of necessary evidence of the effectiveness of the methods used. Despite this, the recipes described below have been used for several centuries, accelerating recovery and alleviating the symptoms of the disease.

Decoctions and infusions

The following phytotherapeutic drugs can be used in therapy:

Horsetail infusion: a spoonful of dried leaves (no need to be crushed) is poured with 500 ml of water at a temperature of 90-95°C, then covered and allowed to brew for 3 hours. The product is filtered and taken 200-300 ml 4 times a day.
Honey and radish: the beekeeping product is mixed with radish juice in a 1:1 ratio, brought to a homogeneous consistency over heat and taken 1 tablespoon three times a day.
Herbal collection: mint, licorice, cudweed are used. The components are taken in equal quantities, they are mixed and boiled for 15 minutes. The amount of water should be 9-10 parts per 1 part of medicinal raw material. After preparation, the product is cooled, filtered and taken 150 ml 3-4 times a day.

The effect of medicinal plants is based on the content of flavonoids, saponins, phytoncides and other biologically active substances, each of which has a number of effects. The components included in the composition of the described products make it possible to achieve anti-inflammatory, secretolytic, and antimicrobial effects.

Note: the preparation of infusions can be speeded up. To do this, the mixture is heated in a water bath, stirring continuously. Ready time is 15 minutes. Next, you should cool the product for 45 minutes.

Compresses and rubbing

Compresses and rubbing can achieve a warming and distracting effect.

Compresses

The compress is applied according to certain rules. The site of action for pleurisy is the anterior surface of the chest. Warm water, cottage cheese, and honey can be used as the active substance. A cotton cloth or gauze napkin is moistened in the prepared solution, after which it is straightened and placed on the chest.

A layer of plastic film or compress paper is placed on top of the applied applicator. The second layer should protrude above the first on all sides by at least 2 centimeters. The resulting structure is fixed with a warm scarf or covered with a blanket. The time required to achieve a therapeutic effect is 2-3 hours. The purpose of the compress is to preserve its own heat and stimulate immune reactions in the affected area.

Rubbing

In contrast to the method described above, rubbing has a different purpose. They allow blood to flow away from the site of inflammation, reduce swelling, and relieve the symptoms of the disease. The following recipes can be cited as a working tool:

Emulsion of onions, oil and wax: mash 2 small onions, mix with half a glass of vegetable oil, add a teaspoon of honey. The mixture is put on fire and heated until a homogeneous light brown mass is obtained. After cooling and straining, the drug is ready for application.
Essential oil mixture: prepared on the basis of castor oil. Its volume is 50 ml. Add 10 drops each of anise and eucalyptus oil, as well as sage oil. The product is thoroughly mixed.
Bay leaf: the specified raw material in a volume of 30 grams is crushed, mixed with 50 grams of butter (base) and 10 drops of sage oil. After this, the mixture is slightly heated (in a water bath) to distribute the components evenly.

The resulting products are used before bedtime. The drug is applied to the front and side surfaces of the chest, lightly rubbed into the skin. After this, the patient is recommended to cover himself with a blanket and sleep. For hyperthermia and skin diseases on the chest, rubbing is contraindicated.

Inhalations

There is practically no need for inhalations in uncomplicated pleurisy, since the focus of the disease is not located in the bronchi. However, the disease is often complicated by the addition of a bronchial infection, which requires appropriate treatment. The following solutions can be used:

alkaline mineral water;
field chamomile decoction;
essential oils;
onion or garlic.

Inhalation of liquid media is carried out using a nebulizer. In its absence, it is possible to use the old method that was used by ancient healers. To do this, place the container with the decoction over a burner with a low flame. The patient must breathe in the vapors coming from the medicine. Essential oils and onions can be applied cold. To do this, the substrate is applied to a napkin or wrapped in it, after which the person breathes in the fumes.

Note: hot inhalations using open fire should be done with caution. There is a high risk of fire or respiratory tract burns from hot steam.

Traditional therapy for certain forms of the disease

There are several types of pleurisy, each of which has its own treatment characteristics.

Treatment of exudative pleurisy

infusion of viburnum berries (2 tablespoons per glass of water);
decoction of Siberian elderberry leaves (1 tablespoon per glass of water);
infusion of burdock root (1 tsp per glass of water).

Taking diuretic decoctions should be done under the control of water balance (the amount of fluid excreted and consumed). Water losses should be slightly greater than the volume of its consumption.

Treatment of dry pleurisy

Any folk recipes that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are suitable for the treatment of dry pleurisy. Taking into account the fact that the form of the disease in question is often secondary, the underlying pathology should be treated.

Treatment of purulent pleurisy

Purulent pleurisy does not respond to traditional therapy, leads to the development of respiratory failure, and is a life-threatening condition. Surgical treatment: drainage of the pleural cavity, thoracotomy with removal of the affected area. Antibacterial herbs can theoretically be used as an auxiliary method during the period of convalescence. However, given the massive drug therapy and the lack of accurate information about the interaction of drugs with the components of herbal infusions, it is safer to refuse such treatment.

Treatment of encysted pleurisy

Ensacculated pleurisy is a type of exudative. Therefore, the goals and methods of treatment do not differ from those for the accumulation of free effusion in the pleural cavity. Bursa is often the result of a tumor or tuberculous lesion. When treating with herbs, their possible interaction with etiotropic drugs should be taken into account.

Treatment of pleurisy with various means

The following folk remedies can be used in the treatment of pleurisy:

Badger fat contains a large amount of vitamins and organic acids. Has bactericidal and immunostimulating effects. Used for applying compresses and rubbing.
Honey – bee honey contains carbohydrates, vitamins, carotene, and biologically active organic components. When used in the form of compresses, it has a distracting and warming effect; when consumed internally, it stimulates the immune system and helps saturate the body with natural anti-inflammatory compounds.
Radish – taken in the form of water infusions and decoctions. The main effect of pleurisy is to saturate the body with vitamins and stimulate its own defense mechanisms.
Onions are a source of phytoncides - natural antimicrobial agents. It is used for cold inhalations and is included in many anti-inflammatory recipes, including those used as rubs.
Horseradish – contains a large number of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory components. In addition, it is a source of vitamin C. Used in the form of decoctions, it is contraindicated in case of inflammatory pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Almost all of the substances described have certain contraindications. When treating them, one should take into account the state of one’s own health and the presence of hypersensitivity reactions to certain components.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, pleurisy is a severe inflammatory disease. Therefore, it cannot be treated only with folk remedies. The latter contain an amount of medicinal substances that is insufficient to completely suppress the infection. Traditional healing is an excellent auxiliary method of therapy. However, the main treatment should be traditional medicine.

Exudative or effusion pleurisy is a pathology of the respiratory system in which a large amount of fluid (exudate) accumulates in the pleural cavity, the symptoms are clear, treatment is conservative and surgical (puncture and drainage). Normally, the space between the two layers of pleura contains only a few milliliters of fluid, which allows the pleura to slide. The fluid is produced and absorbed at a certain speed, but under the influence of pathologies, the production of exudate increases, and its removal from the pleural cavity slows down.

In the vast majority of cases, effusion pleurisy is not an independent disease, but a symptom of another pathology. But occasionally primary pleurisy is also diagnosed.

Classification of exudative pleurisy

Effusion can be classified according to various criteria:

According to the etiology of the disease: infectious, aseptic.
According to the course of the pathological process: acute, subacute, chronic.
According to the composition of the effusion: serous, hemorrhagic, serous-fibrinous, eosinophilic, purulent, putrefactive, cholesterol, chylous, mixed.
According to the location of the effusion: free, encysted (limited by adhesions between the layers of the pleura).

In this case, encysted forms can be subdivided depending on where exactly the localization of the accumulation of exudate is located: apical, parietal, diaphragmatic, bone-diaphragmatic, paramediastinal, interlobar.

Also, pleurisy can affect the pleura of both lungs (bilateral) or only one (right-sided, left-sided).

Development mechanism

Normally, between the layers of the pleura there is no more than 10 ml of liquid, but during effusion its amount can reach 4 liters, and even exceed this figure.

This occurs due to the following pathological processes:

increased permeability of vascular walls;
increased intravascular pressure;
decrease in the barrier function of the visceral pleura;
reduction of the effusion-absorbing function of the parietal pleura.

As a result, fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, and its removal through the capillaries and lymphatic vessels does not occur. Filling of the pleural cavity with fluid leads to compression of the lungs (or one lung, if pleurisy is unilateral) and disruption of the respiratory process.

Causes

The etiology of exudative pleurisy can be different. More often, the cause of the syndrome is the entry of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi) into the pleural cavity. Infectious pleurisy can also be caused by tuberculosis (up to 80% of all cases), pneumonia, or lung abscess.

Aseptic pleurisy develops against the background of various diseases, both lungs and other body systems, which include allergic reactions and autoimmune systemic diseases. There is a category of post-traumatic effusion pleurisy, as well as pneumothorax due to oncological tumors.

Infectious causes

Infectious exudative pleurisy complicates inflammatory processes:

pneumonia – microbial inflammation of the respiratory tissue of the lungs;
abscess - a source of suppuration of the lung;
gangrene - infectious destruction of the lung;
tuberculosis of the lungs.

The cause of infectious exudative pleurisy is the penetration of pathogens of the underlying disease into the pleural cavity. Microbes get there from a site of decay or inflammation located close to the outer shell of the organ. The infection can also travel through lymphatic capillaries and blood vessels.

The cause of exudative pleurisy of tuberculosis etiology is an avalanche-like increase in the sensitivity of the patient’s body to the tuberculosis bacillus (sensitization). The result of sensitization is the rapid accumulation of reactive effusion when even single microbes enter the pleura. Tuberculous exudative pleurisy affects mainly adult patients.

The accumulation of effusion in the chest cavity for non-inflammatory or unknown reasons is called “hydrothorax” or non-infectious (aseptic) effusion pleurisy.

Non-infectious causes

chest injury with hemorrhage into the pleural cavity;
pulmonary infarction due to blockage of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus - a blood clot;
malignant tumors of the pleura and lungs (carcinomatosis, mesothelioma, cancer);
chronic circulatory failure;
chronic renal failure;
autoimmune connective tissue diseases (rheumatism, collagenosis);
malignant blood tumors;
liver cirrhosis provokes right-sided exudative pleurisy;
inflammation of the pancreas causes reactive left-sided effusion pleurisy.

Symptoms of exudative pleurisy

The clinical picture of the disease depends on its severity, the type of exudate, and the amount of accumulated effusion.

Some of the more common symptoms include:

shortness of breath;
chest pain;
inability to take a deep breath;
cough;
general weakness, loss of appetite;
periodically rising temperature.

With purulent effusion, the disease is more severe, with fever and symptoms of intoxication. The clinical picture is also influenced by the fact of which lung is affected: left-sided pleural effusion provokes symptoms from the heart muscle, for example, arrhythmia, an increase in heart rate to 120 beats per minute.

Phases of disease development

The pathology progresses over three stages:

accumulation of exudate in the pleural cavity;
stabilization of the condition, when the amount of effusion does not increase or decrease;
resorption of exudate.

Each stage can last up to 3 weeks.

X-ray signs

A radiological symptom of exudative pleurisy is massive shading of the pulmonary field in the lower sections. In contrast to pneumonic shadowing, the X-ray shadow of pleural effusion has an obliquely ascending border.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis begins with examining the patient and collecting anamnesis. Among the characteristic signs are pale skin, shallow breathing, the desire to lie on one side in a certain position if pleurisy is one-sided. During the act of breathing, the affected part of the chest lags behind; during percussion (tapping), the sound is dull; when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, bursts are heard.

After this, the patient is sent for functional and laboratory diagnostics:

X-rays of light;
thoracentesis – removal of part of the pleural effusion for examination;
Ultrasound of the pleural cavity;
CT scan of the lungs;
thoracoscopy – endoscopic examination of the pleural cavity through a puncture of the chest;
biochemical and general blood test.

The most accurate and therefore mandatory research methods are x-rays and thoracentesis.

Treatment of exudative pleurisy

Treatment of exudative pleurisy is carried out in accordance with the underlying disease, usually includes evacuation of the effusion and elimination of the cause of the pathology with the help of medications.

Infectious processes complicated by pleural effusion are treated with antibiotics.

If there is a significant accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity, it is removed through a puncture in the chest wall (and pleural cavity). The resulting effusion is sent to the laboratory. Test results help determine the cause of pleurisy and choose the necessary treatment.

A modern method for diagnosing and treating exudative pleurisy is videothoracoscopy. The endoscopic device is inserted into the pleural cavity through a small puncture in the chest wall. The surgeon examines the chest cavity from the inside, takes samples of effusion and pieces of pleura for analysis, and performs therapeutic measures.

Pleural puncture

Pleural puncture is a method of removing exudate from the pleural cavity using a puncture. When excess fluid is eliminated, the lung expands and the person instantly feels relief. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, the effusion is removed slowly, and the resulting fluid is sent to the laboratory for testing.

Through a needle, after draining the pleural cavity, drugs can be injected into the pleural cavity: antiseptics, antibiotics, hormonal and antitumor agents, depending on the diagnosis.

Drug therapy

Medicines are prescribed depending on the diagnosis:

for tuberculosis - tuberculostatic drugs;
for pneumonia - antibiotics;
in oncology - cytostatics;
for autoimmune pathologies, allergies - glucocorticoids, etc.

Medications may also be prescribed for symptomatic treatment to quickly relieve the patient’s well-being: antitussives, analgesics, antispasmodics, diuretics.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps speed up the healing process and is therefore used in conjunction with drug treatment and drainage of the pleural cavity. For effusion, chest massage, electrophoresis, paraffin therapy, and breathing exercises are effective.

Physiotherapy, like other methods of therapy, is prescribed by the attending physician.

Prevention

Prevention of exudative pleurisy is a set of recommendations for a healthy lifestyle and timely consultation with a doctor:

to give up smoking;
climatotherapy with sea air;
hardening of the body;
proper treatment of any infections, refusal of self-medication;
regular fluorography (once a year).

If you have already had the disease, an x-ray should be taken 6 months after recovery.

Treatment of pleurisy with traditional methods

Greetings, dear readers of the blog Narmedblog.ru. Autumn has come to us, winter is coming soon. The cold season contributes to the occurrence of widespread colds, ranging from a common runny nose to dangerous flu and pneumonia. The topic of today's article is the treatment of pleurisy using traditional methods.

Causes of pleurisy and its symptoms

● Our lungs are covered on all sides with a special membrane called pleura. This shell protects them: they slide freely along the chest when breathing. During inflammatory processes, the pleura thickens and swells, becoming uneven - thus pleurisy occurs.

● Pleurisy itself, as a rule, is recorded very rarely: with massive hypothermia or trauma in the chest area. In most cases, pleurisy is a companion to some other pulmonary disease: tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis. Somewhat less frequently, it develops as a complication of diseases of the abdominal organs: pancreatitis or hepatitis.

● In medicine, two types of pleurisy are distinguished: dry and effusion (or exudative) - with the release of fluid into the pleural cavity.

● With dry pleurisy, there is no fluid in the pleural cavity; the pleural layers rub against each other when breathing, causing acute pain in the chest, especially when coughing. You can often hear from a patient with pleurisy: “My chest hurts so much, it’s as if someone was stabbing with an awl.” He has to take a forced position in order to calm the pain at least a little: he lies on the healthy side of the chest or leans against some object.

● With dry pleurisy, body temperature rises, often reaching 38-38.5 degrees. Appetite decreases, the patient loses weight.

● When fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, the volume of which can reach up to five liters, the pain subsides, a wet cough appears instead of a dry one, and noticeable shortness of breath begins. Breathing is bubbling - heard at a distance, it is superficial, irregular, and often whistling. This condition is accompanied by weakness, chills and profuse sweat.
How to differentiate pleurisy from other pulmonary diseases

● To make a diagnosis, clinical observations alone are not enough - the results of laboratory blood tests and x-ray examination of the chest organs are needed. The presence of a serious inflammatory process in the body is indicated by anemia (anemia), leukocytosis (increased number of white blood cells), an increase in ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) to 70-80 units.

● A fairly reliable method for diagnosing pleurisy is chest X-ray, but it has the following disadvantage: it can detect darkening in the pleural cavity only when the volume of pleural fluid in the pleural cavity is at least 300−500 ml. That is, an x-ray will not show the presence of dry pleurisy.

● There is another way to clarify the diagnosis - puncture of the pleural cavity. Using this method, the doctor sends pleural fluid for laboratory testing and subsequently determines both the degree of the inflammatory process and the cause of the disease based on its quantity, color, consistency, and the presence of microbial flora.

“Attention: only a certified doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment for you, so I strongly recommend that you agree with your doctor on all the recommendations given below.”

Treatment of pleurisy - the first stage

● Do not delay the illness, contact your local doctor. Self-medication can cause a compressed lung to stop functioning completely. Treatment of pleurisy should be comprehensive. First of all, you need to stop the main process that led to the occurrence of pleurisy.

● Subsequently, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Among the antibiotics, the most effective are clindamycin, fortum, cefobid, and cefatoxime. The course of treatment lasts 2-3 weeks, after which, if necessary, you can replace antibiotics with sumamed, augmentin, amoxilav.

● Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment of pleurisy lasts up to two months, and is strictly individual for each patient. Along with antibiotics, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: voltaren or ibuprofen; in especially severe cases, people with weakened immune systems are prescribed a hormonal medicine - prednisolone.

● In case of dry pleurisy, if there is no high temperature (fever), the patient is prescribed distractive medications: alcohol warming wraps (compresses), mustard plasters, cups on the chest area.
Treatment of pleurisy with traditional methods

● Many medicinal herbal mixtures effectively affect the inflammatory process in the lungs, but in the treatment of pleurisy they are prescribed in combination with pharmaceutical drugs, and during the period of convalescence (recovery). For diseases of the upper respiratory tract, licorice root, white willow bark, fennel fruits, linden blossom, plantain grass, hyssop, knotweed, and coltsfoot leaves have proven themselves to be effective as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent.

● Recipe No. 1. Pour two tablespoons of chopped fennel fruits with a glass of boiling water and place in a water bath for 15-20 minutes. Let it brew for one hour. Take ⅓ glass of decoction three times a day for dry pleurisy.

● Recipe No. 2 - for exudative (effusion) pleurisy. Pour 50 grams of linden blossom and two tablespoons of birch buds into two glasses of boiled water; heat the medicinal mixture in a water bath for 15 minutes and then leave for one hour. Strain the broth and add one glass of linden honey and aloe juice to it, place again in a water bath for five minutes. Stir and add one glass of vegetable oil (preferably olive). Take one tablespoon before meals three times a day for one month.

● Recipe No. 3 - for the treatment of dry and exudative pleurisy. Grind and mix equal proportions of coltsfoot leaves, black elderberry flowers and knotweed grass. Pour one tablespoon of the mixture into 200 ml. boiling water and leave in a thermos for half an hour. Drink ¼ glass of infusion half an hour before meals three or four times a day.
General treatment and preventive measures for pleurisy

● A patient with pleurisy after prolonged use of antibiotics becomes weak, his immune activity decreases. He urgently needs to restore his lost strength. The diet should be high-calorie, balanced, rich in vitamins and minerals. In order not to provoke a cough, it is better to avoid spicy foods.

● With exudative pleurisy, water-salt metabolism in the body is disrupted, so it is recommended to limit salt intake to 5 grams, as well as liquid to 1 liter per day.

● During the period of convalescence, you should walk in the fresh air more often, do morning exercises and feasible physical activity. This significantly improves blood circulation, prevents the formation of adhesions in the pleural area, relieves painful shortness of breath, that is, it gradually returns you to your previous normal active and fulfilling life.

Be healthy and may God bless you!!!

is a disease of the respiratory system, which is characterized by damage to the pleura of an infectious, tumor or other nature.

Damage to the pleural cavity is accompanied by the accumulation of an excess amount of exudate (effusion), which leads to a feeling of heaviness in the patient, a reflex cough, increasing shortness of breath and an increase in body temperature.

The main treatment for exudative pleurisy consists of removing accumulated fluid from the pleural cavity, as well as conducting pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.

Depending on the etiology of the disease, exudative pleurisy is divided into two types: infectious and non-infectious.

Most infectious exudative pleurisy occurs as a result of complications of pathologies of the lungs, nearby organs and tissues, as well as severe systemic ailments.

The infectious form of pleurisy appears against the background of the following processes in the lungs:

lung abscess;

The cause of the disease in this case is the entry of infectious irritants from the listed diseases into the pleural cavity.

In addition, microorganisms from the source of inflammation can circulate through the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

In the case of a disease of tuberculosis etiology, there is an increased reactivity of the body to the effects of the tuberculosis bacillus, as a result of which fluid begins to accumulate even with the penetration of a small number of pathogens.

This type of exudative pleurisy occurs mainly in adult patients.

Causes of aseptic (non-infectious) effusion pleurisy:

Trauma, chest wound, resulting in hemorrhage in the pleural area;
Pulmonary infarction due to pulmonary embolism;
Malignant neoplasms in the pleura and lungs;
Systemic connective tissue diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, collagenosis);
Kidney failure;
Diseases of the circulatory and lymphatic systems;
Cirrhosis of the liver (provokes right-sided pleurisy);
Inflammatory process in the pancreas.

Often exudative pleural effusion has a unilateral form, with the exception of metastatic processes, systemic lupus erythematosus and lymphoma, on the basis of which bilateral pleural exudate can develop.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of exudative pleurisy depend on the volume, nature and intensity of fluid accumulation:

Chest pain
At an early stage, when fluid just begins to accumulate, the patient is tormented by increasing pain in the chest. As the disease progresses, the layers of the pleura begin to separate from each other, which reduces the excitation of intercostal nerve fibers and relieves pain.

The pain syndrome is replaced by other symptoms: a feeling of heaviness in the affected side of the chest, a reflex cough and shortness of breath, which forces the patient to take a position on the affected side.

Cough and shortness of breath
These symptoms depend on the volume of accumulated effusion, impaired ventilation of the diseased lung due to pressure and displacement of the mediastinal organs. The cough at the initial stage is dry, but as the disease progresses it becomes wet.

Symptoms of respiratory failure
They are characterized by pale or bluish skin, the appearance of cyanosis and acrocyanosis. If fluid has accumulated not only in the pleural area, but also in the mediastinum, swelling in the neck and face, swelling of the veins, and a change in voice are observed.

Other signs

Tachycardia, decreased blood pressure.

Convexity of the chest in the area of accumulated exudate.

Additional symptoms: febrile temperature, sweating, drowsiness.

Fever, chills, signs of intoxication, headaches, loss of appetite.

The listed symptoms may occur with an infectious form of effusion pleurisy.

Empyema of the pleura. Develops when accumulated exudate suppurates.

Examination of the chest, as a rule, determines shallow, rapid breathing, asymmetry of the chest, and lag of the affected side in the process of respiratory movements.

Palpation gives the patient painful sensations, weakened vocal sounds are noted on the affected half of the chest.

There are three phases of the disease:

Exudation lasts up to three weeks, during which time up to 10 liters of exudate can accumulate.
Stabilization, with the onset of which the formation of effusion stops, but the process of its absorption does not yet occur.
Resorption, which is characterized by resorption of exudate. In most weakened patients, this stage lasts up to two to three weeks.

Diagnosis of the disease

Before prescribing treatment for effusion pleurisy, the doctor conducts a comprehensive diagnosis that establishes the causes of the disease and determines the main pathology.

Percussion of the lungs
Detects dull sounds over effusion. Topographic percussion notes a displacement of the lower edge of the lungs, as well as a decrease in respiratory mobility.

Auscultation
At an early stage, it notes a place with weak vesicular breathing, as well as noises resulting from friction of the pleura.

It can and does determine the main pathology, which has become focal and complex diagnosis of the disease, which, as a result of friction of the pleura, can determine the presence of leukocytosis, neutrophilia, a shift of leukocytes and formula to the left, as well as an increased ESR.

Analysis of pleural effusion
Serous fluid is characteristic of pleurisy of the tuberculosis form, purulent exudate is formed during gangrene of the lung and enters the pleural space.

Liquid of a serous-purulent nature and containing fibrin protein is characteristic of the rheumatoid and tuberculous nature of pleurisy. Microscopic examination reveals the presence of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils.

Radiography
Reveals darkening and shift of organs of the mediastinal system to the healthy side.

Therapy of the disease

The main treatment for exudative pleurisy is to evacuate fluid from the pleural space, as well as to influence the main pathology that provoked the consequences.

Most often, pleural exudate is observed on the right, but a more severe variant of development is also possible - exudative pleurisy of a bilateral form.

If there is an excessive volume of effusion, puncture or drainage of the pleural cavity is performed, allowing to evacuate fluid, straighten the deformed lung, reduce shortness of breath, lower body temperature, etc.

Surgical removal of fluid is performed if the following symptoms are observed:

Large volume of pleural fluid, reaching the 2nd rib;
Exudate puts pressure on surrounding organs;
There is a risk of pleural suppuration.

Taking into account the cause of pleurisy, drug treatment is prescribed:

Tuberculostatic drugs (for the tuberculous form of exudative pleurisy);
Antibacterial agents (for pneumatic pleurisy);
Cytostatic agents (for tumors and metastases);
Glucocorticoid drugs (for lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis)
Diuretic treatment for pleurisy caused by cirrhosis of the liver (usually the lung located on the right is affected).

Regardless of the etiology of the disease, analgesics, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and desensitizing agents are prescribed.

At the stage when the effusion occurs, auxiliary treatment is added to the main therapy:

Halotherapy (oxygen therapy);
Transfusion of plasma-substituting compounds;
Treatment based on chest massage, vibration massage;
Physiotherapeutic treatment, for example, compresses based on paraffin applications (in the absence of contraindications);

Complications due to empyema are treated by introducing antiseptic drugs and antibiotics into the pleural cavity.

Chronic exudate suppuration is eliminated by surgical intervention through thoracostomy, pleurectomy, which involves decortication of the lung.

Exudative pleurisy, provoked by malignant neoplasms, involves treatment based on chemotherapy and chemical pleurodesis.

Prevention of exudative pleurisy is aimed, first of all, at timely diagnosis and proper treatment of pathologies that cause the formation of exudate in the pleural cavity.