How to Relieve Pleuritic Pain
Feb 17, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Qifeng
Introduction
1. General treatment: Patients with exudative pleuritis often experience fever and should therefore rest in bed. Lying on the affected side helps maximize compensatory function of the healthy lung.
2. Antibiotic therapy: Antituberculous drugs are used for tuberculous pleuritis. The principle of antituberculous treatment is early initiation.
3. Thoracentesis (pleural fluid aspiration): Indicated for exudative pleuritis, large-volume pleural effusion, or compression of the mediastinum or heart.
Pleurisy refers to inflammation of the pleura caused by pathogenic stimuli and is also known as “pleuritis.” Pleural effusion may or may not be present within the thoracic cavity. Below, we address the question of how to relieve pain associated with pleurisy.
How to Relieve Pain Associated with Pleurisy
Firstly, pain caused by pleurisy can be alleviated by oral administration of medications such as aspirin, indomethacin, or codeine. Additionally, treatment must target the underlying disease.
1. General supportive care: Exudative pleurisy is often accompanied by fever; therefore, bed rest is recommended. Patients should adopt a lateral decubitus position on the affected side to allow the unaffected lung to fully compensate. Nutritional support—including high-protein, high-calorie, vitamin-rich, and easily digestible foods—is essential. For patients with high fever, physical cooling measures should be employed.
2. Antibiotic therapy: Antituberculous drugs are indicated for tuberculous pleurisy. The principles of antituberculous treatment include early initiation, adequate dosing, and prolonged duration. For non-tuberculous pleurisy, drug selection should be guided by the underlying etiology. In cases of purulent pleurisy or tuberculous empyema with secondary infection, penicillin is commonly used.
3. Thoracentesis (pleural fluid aspiration): This procedure is indicated for exudative pleurisy with large-volume pleural effusion, especially when mediastinal or cardiac compression occurs, significant dyspnea is present, or effusion persists despite prolonged conservative treatment.
4. Corticosteroid therapy: Adrenal corticosteroids, used in combination with antituberculous agents, are beneficial in acute tuberculous exudative pleurisy. They help alleviate systemic toxic symptoms, promote pleural fluid absorption, and prevent pleural thickening and adhesions. Corticosteroids may be administered systemically or locally.
The above outlines strategies for relieving pain associated with pleurisy. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
