What should I do if pleurisy is serious?

The pleura is a seemingly simple but indispensable part of the chest cavity. It ensures the stability and health of various organs in the chest cavity. The area covered by the pleura is relatively large, almost covering the entire chest cavity. Therefore, pleural diseases are also common diseases in life. For example, pleurisy is a relatively common inflammation that has a great impact on the patient's life. Because pleurisy can cause extreme pain, the pain goes deep into the bone marrow and makes it difficult for the patient to breathe. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the hazards and treatment of pleurisy. Let’s take a look at what to do if pleurisy is serious?

1. General treatment

Exudative pleurisy is often accompanied by fever, and the patient should lie down to rest, lying on the affected side so that the healthy lung can fully play its compensatory role. Strengthen nutrition, increase appetite, and provide high-protein, high-calorie, multivitamin and easily digestible diet. For patients with high fever, physical cooling should be used and antipyretics should be given when necessary

2. Antibiotics

Anti-tuberculosis drug therapy is suitable for the treatment of tuberculous (dry or exudative) pleurisy. The total course of treatment is 6 to 9 months. Tuberculous pleurisy is often treated with a combination of streptomycin and isoniazid. During the use of streptomycin, the patient should be observed for toxic reactions such as numbness of the lips, tinnitus, and deafness. If these reactions occur, the drug should be discontinued immediately. If central nervous system reactions such as dizziness, insomnia or convulsions occur, vitamin B6 can be added for symptomatic treatment. Non-tuberculous pleurisy should be treated with appropriate drugs based on the primary disease (such as infection, tumor, etc.). Patients with purulent pleurisy or tuberculous empyema with infection are treated with penicillin.

3. Take oral anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.

4. Thoracentesis

It is suitable for patients with exudative pleurisy, large pleural effusion, mediastinal or cardiac compression, obvious dyspnea or effusion that is not absorbed after long-term treatment. Drain exudate to relieve symptoms and avoid fibrin deposition that may cause pleural adhesion and thickening. The speed of fluid extraction should not be too fast. 400-600 ml of fluid can be extracted for the first time, and it can be gradually increased later. The amount of fluid extracted each time should not exceed 1000 ml to avoid circulatory disorders or shock due to a sudden decrease in chest pressure and mediastinal shift. 2 to 3 times a week.