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Signs & Symptoms of Pleural Effusion


The signs and symptoms of pleural effusion are often similar to those of upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. Due to this, doctors are often not able to identify the condition correctly. Here are some of the most pressing symptoms of the condition:

  • Severe chest pain that increases when you take in a deep breath or cough. The person may also experience a stabbing pain.
  • Persistent cough, which may increase with time. The cough may be dry or with a lot of phlegm.
  • Persistent fever
  • Persistent hiccups that may come and go
  • Heaving and rapid breathing. The person may have difficulty breathing, especially when taking deep breaths. The person may also experience shortness of breath and may not be able to perform even the slightest physical exertion.
  • The sound of breathing may be labored and cracked.
  • In some cases, the person may not experience any symptoms at all.

Causes
Diagnosis
Frequently asked questions
References
  1. R.W. Light, Y.C.G. Lee, PLEURAL EFFUSIONS | Overview, In:   Geoffrey J. Laurent and Steven D. Shapiro, Editor(s)-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Press, Oxford, 2006, Pages 353-358, ISBN 9780123708793, 10.1016/B0-12-370879-6/00299-4.
  2. Jeffrey S. Pollak, Catherine M. Burdge, Melvin Rosenblatt, Jeffrey P. Houston, Wen-Jen Hwu, John Murren, Treatment of Malignant Pleural Effusions with Tunneled Long-term Drainage Catheters, Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Volume 12, Issue 2, February 2001, Pages 201-208, ISSN 1051-0443, 10.1016/S1051-0443(07)61826-0.