Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion

Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion

A Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is the commonest symptom of pleural effusion. A patient's history of chest pain, dyspnea, or cough is neither sensitive nor specific.

It is only suggestive of pleural effusion. These symptoms may be absent in critically ill patients and in massive effusions. Clinical features of pleural effusion include:

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is the commonest symptom of pleural effusion. The degree of dyspnea relates to fluid volume.
• Chest Pain: Generally unilateral and sharp and worsens with inspiration or cough. It may radiate to the shoulder, neck, or abdomen.

Other features depend upon the underlying disease causing effusion.

• Swelling of feet and shortness of breath when laying flat (orthopnea) or in the middle of the night (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, PND) occurs in congestive heart failure
• Night sweats, coughing up blood (hemoptysis), loss of weight occurs in tuberculosis.
• Infections and lung cancer also cause hemoptysis.
• Fever,chills, cough producing rusty sputum and pleuritic pain signifies pneumonia.

Pleural Effusion - References

1. Cecil Medicine, 23rd Ed.
2. Harrison''s PRINCIPLES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, 17^TH� Edition
3. Macleod�s Clinical Examination, 12^th Ed.

Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Dr. Nithin Jayan. (2016, September 30). Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/pleural-effusion-symptoms-and-signs.htm.

• MLA

  Dr. Nithin Jayan. "Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion". Medindia. Jan 14, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/pleural-effusion-symptoms-and-signs.htm>.

• Chicago

  Dr. Nithin Jayan. "Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/pleural-effusion-symptoms-and-signs.htm. (accessed Jan 14, 2025).

• Harvard

  Dr. Nithin Jayan. 2016. Symptoms and Signs of Pleural Effusion. Medindia, viewed Jan 14, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/pleural-effusion-symptoms-and-signs.htm.