What are the symptoms of empyema?

Empyema is a relatively rare condition in daily life; therefore, some patients may not be promptly diagnosed when they develop this disease. What symptoms does empyema present?

Symptoms of Empyema

Acute empyema: Primarily manifests as an acute inflammatory response. Patients commonly experience high fever, pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachycardia, and anorexia. Those with large volumes of purulent fluid in the thoracic cavity may also exhibit cough, sputum production, and chest tightness. Some patients develop severe systemic infection and septic symptoms, such as hypotension and shock. Chronic empyema: Characterized mainly by low-grade fever, weight loss, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia—indicative of chronic systemic toxicity. Some patients may experience shortness of breath, cough, and thick sputum. Severe cases may involve lung collapse.

Thus, clinical manifestations of empyema vary depending on the stage of disease. Early-stage disease presents with acute inflammatory features and more severe symptoms, whereas later stages are dominated by chronic catabolic symptoms. Acute empyema typically results from thoracic trauma allowing pathogenic organisms to enter the pleural cavity, or from extension of pneumonia into the pleural space, causing inflammation and purulent effusion. Patients with acute empyema should seek care at a thoracic surgery department, where diagnostic thoracentesis can be performed to aspirate pus for pathogen identification. Intravenous administration of sensitive antibiotics is then initiated to control infection, often combined with surgical interventions such as thoracotomy or tube thoracostomy for drainage.

Dietary recommendations: Consume light, easily digestible foods and maintain adequate hydration. Increase intake of high-protein foods such as fish, dairy products, and soy milk. Critically ill patients may require intravenous plasma and albumin infusions to support treatment. We hope this information proves helpful!