How is pleural effusion treated in its early stages?
Disease description:
I felt a bit of coughing today. After an examination, the doctor said it's early-stage pulmonary edema. How should it be treated?
Early treatment of pulmonary effusion mainly includes the following measures:
1. **Medication**: Mild pulmonary effusion can be treated with diuretics such as spironolactone to promote fluid excretion from the body and reduce the burden on the heart. If the effusion is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, anti-tuberculosis medications such as ethambutol hydrochloride tablets should also be taken.
2. **Oxygen Therapy**: For patients with hypoxemia, high-concentration oxygen should be administered to correct the oxygen deficiency and improve tissue oxygenation in the lungs.
3. **General Treatment**: During treatment, patients should rest adequately, focus on nutritional support, and consume more high-protein foods such as milk and eggs to enhance physical condition and promote recovery.
4. **Surgical Treatment**: If there is a large amount of effusion, surgical options such as thoracentesis or intercostal tube drainage may be considered to directly remove the accumulated fluid.
Patients are advised to choose appropriate treatment methods according to their specific condition and under a physician's guidance, and to undergo regular follow-up examinations to monitor disease progression.