Is pleurisy with effusion contagious?
Disease description:
A few days ago, I often experienced chest pain. The doctor diagnosed it as pleurisy. Is pleurisy with pleural effusion contagious?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xiao Ning
Whether pleurisy with effusion is contagious depends on its cause. In general, the effusion itself is not contagious. Pleurisy can be caused by various factors, including bacterial infections, viral infections, tumors, or other non-infectious diseases. When inflammation of the pleura and associated effusion occur due to these causes, the effusion itself does not directly transmit disease. It should be noted that if the pleurisy is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (i.e., tuberculous pleurisy) and is accompanied by pulmonary tuberculosis, it may be contagious. In cases of tuberculous pleurisy with concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis, the tuberculosis can spread to others through airborne droplets. Appropriate isolation measures should be taken for patients with tuberculous pleurisy to prevent transmission.
