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Hi, Anon,

Welcome to EmpowHER! And thank you very much for your question.

For those who don't know, pleurisy is a condition where the membranes that surround your lungs become inflamed. People who are suffering from pleurisy (or pleuritis) feel sharp pain when they take a breath.

The treatment of pleurisy depends on what underlying condition a person has that is causing it.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic says about treating pleurisy:

"The most important goal in relieving pleurisy or pleural effusion is treatment of the underlying condition that's causing your signs and symptoms. For example, if the cause of pleurisy is a bacterial infection of your lung (pneumonia), an antibiotic may control the infection. But, for pleurisy due to a viral infection, antibiotics won't be effective. Most viral infections run their course without treatment.

"Over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help relieve some of the signs and symptoms of pleurisy. Prescription codeine may help control a cough as well as the pain. If you have a large buildup of fluid, you may need to stay in the hospital to have the fluid drained over a period of several days through a tube inserted into your chest.

"The outcome of pleurisy treatment may depend on the seriousness of the underlying disease."

Does that help, Anon? Are you being treated for pleurisy? If so, do you know what underlying condition is causing it? Are you being treated for that condition?

February 3, 2010 - 10:08am

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