About this topic
Your lungs are covered with thin layers of tissue. This is the pleura. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between the layers. This lets the lungs move normally without pain. Pleurisy happens when the fluid becomes inflamed or the linings rub against each other. This causes pain when you breathe. Pleurisy can happen after a lung injury or infection. It may become a serious condition if not treated. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Support your chest with a pillow when you cough. This will help lessen the pain.
- Strengthen your lungs with exercises such as deep breathing and coughing.
- Use a vaporizer or humidifier at home. It may help you breathe easier.
- Stop smoking. Smoking increases your chance of lung infection.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may suggest that you go to a lung rehab center to help you get your strength back.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Help with pain
- Control coughing
Will physical activity be limited?
Your physical activity may be limited until your signs improve. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Air on the outside of the lungs
- Trouble breathing
- Infection
- Chest pain
- Cough
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Pleurisy is often caused by infections or other problems that you cannot prevent. If you have an infection, your doctor may prescribe a drug to treat it. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, cough, more sputum, or change in color of sputum.
- Blood seen in any sputum you may cough up
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Bluish color of the skin, lips, and nail beds
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my pain.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain and make my breathing easier.
- I can tell you how to care for my chest tube site, if I have one.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble breathing; chest pain; or a bluish color of the skin, lips, or nailbeds.
Where can I learn more?
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pleurisy/ ‚
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/pleurisy-pleuresie/index_e.php ‚
NHS Choice ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pleurisy/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚