Lung Diseases Affecting the Pleura

• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Mesothelioma

Pleural diseases affect the tissue that lines the inside of your chest cavity and covers the outside of your lungs. The pleura is the tissue, and the pleural space is the thin gap between its two layers. When you breathe in and out, a small quantity of fluid fills the pleural gap, which helps the pleural layers glide smoothly against each other. Pleural disorders are caused by blood or air accumulating in the pleural space as a result of an injury, inflammation, or infection. Pleurisy, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax are three different forms of pleural diseases with different causes. Pleurisy is a condition in which the pleura becomes inflamed. Pleural effusion and pneumothorax occur when fluid, pus, blood, air, or other gases accumulate in the pleural space as a result of an infection, medical condition, or chest injury. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing are frequent symptoms of pleural illnesses of various forms, although therapy differs depending on the type and severity of the disorder. Pleural abnormalities, if left untreated, can result in catastrophic complications such as lung collapse, shock, or sepsis.