Empyema (patient information): Difference between revisions

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==What are the symptoms of empyema?==
==What are the symptoms of empyema?==
* [[Chest pain]], which worsens when you breathe in deeply (pleurisy)
* Dry [[cough]]
* [[Excessive sweating]], especially night sweats
* [[Fever]] and chills
* General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling ([[malaise]])
* [[Shortness of breath]]
* [[Weight loss]] (unintentional)


==What causes empyema?==
==What causes empyema?==
Empyema is usually caused by an infection that spreads from the lung. It leads to a buildup of pus in the pleural space.
There can be a pint or more of infected fluid. This fluid puts pressure on the lungs.
Risk factors include:


==Who is at highest risk?==
* [[Bacterial pneumonia]]
* Chest surgery
* [[Lung abscess]]
* Trauma or injury to the chest
 
In rare cases, empyema can occur after a needle is inserted through the chest wall to draw off fluid in the pleural space for medical diagnosis or treatment ([[thoracentesis]]).


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
The health care provider may note decreased breath sounds or an abnormal sound (friction rub) when listening to the chest with a stethoscope ([[auscultation]]).
Tests may include the following:
* [[Chest x-ray]]
* [[CT scan]] of chest
* [[Pleural fluid Gram stain]] and culture
* [[Thoracentesis]]


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of empyema.


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and remove the collection of pus from the space between the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall. Antibiotics are prescribed to control the infection.
The health care provider will place a chest tube to completely drain the pus. A surgeon may need to perform a procedure to peel away the lining of the lung (decortication) if the lung does not expand properly.


==Where to find medical care for empyema?==
==Where to find medical care for empyema?==
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==Prevention==
==Prevention==
Prompt and effective treatment of lung infections may prevent some cases of empyema.


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
When empyema complicates pneumonia, the risk of permanent lung damage and death goes up. Patients will need long-term treatment with antibiotics and drainage. However, most people fully recover from empyema.


==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
* Pleural thickening
* Reduced lung function


==Sources==
==Sources==
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[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Pulmonology]]
[[Category:Pulmonology]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
 


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Latest revision as of 17:39, 18 September 2017

Empyema

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for empyema?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Empyema On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of empyema

Videos on empyema

FDA on empyema

CDC on empyema

Empyema in the news

Blogs on empyema

Directions to Hospitals Treating Empyema

Risk calculators and risk factors for empyema

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Empyema is a collection of pus in the space between the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall (pleural space).

What are the symptoms of empyema?

What causes empyema?

Empyema is usually caused by an infection that spreads from the lung. It leads to a buildup of pus in the pleural space.

There can be a pint or more of infected fluid. This fluid puts pressure on the lungs.

Risk factors include:

In rare cases, empyema can occur after a needle is inserted through the chest wall to draw off fluid in the pleural space for medical diagnosis or treatment (thoracentesis).

Diagnosis

The health care provider may note decreased breath sounds or an abnormal sound (friction rub) when listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation).

Tests may include the following:

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of empyema.

Treatment options

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and remove the collection of pus from the space between the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall. Antibiotics are prescribed to control the infection.

The health care provider will place a chest tube to completely drain the pus. A surgeon may need to perform a procedure to peel away the lining of the lung (decortication) if the lung does not expand properly.

Where to find medical care for empyema?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Empyema

Prevention

Prompt and effective treatment of lung infections may prevent some cases of empyema.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

When empyema complicates pneumonia, the risk of permanent lung damage and death goes up. Patients will need long-term treatment with antibiotics and drainage. However, most people fully recover from empyema.

Possible complications

  • Pleural thickening
  • Reduced lung function

Sources


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