Pleural Disorders What Are Pleural Disorders?

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Pleural disorders are conditions that affect the tissue that covers the outside of the lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity.

The tissue is called the pleura, and the thin space between its two layers is called the pleural space. A small amount of fluid fills the pleural space, and when you breathe in and out, this fluid helps the pleural layers glide smoothly against each other. An injury, inflammation , or infection can cause the blood or air to build up in the pleural space and lead to a pleural disorder.

There are three types of pleural disorders — pleurisy, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax — and they have varying causes. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. Pleural effusion and pneumothorax occur when an infection, medical condition, or chest injury causes fluid, pus, blood, air, or other gases to build up in the pleural space.

Chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing are common symptoms of all types of pleural disorders, but treatment for pleural disorders varies depending on what type you have and how serious it is. If left untreated, pleural disorders can lead to serious problems, including complete collapse of the lung, shock, or sepsis.