Pleurisy - Treating pleurisy

Treatment for pleurisy usually involves relieving pain and treating the underlying cause of the condition.

If treated promptly, pleurisy usually resolves without any lasting damage to the lungs.

Treating pain

The chest pain associated with pleurisy can be treated using a type of painkiller known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most often, ibuprofen is used. If NSAIDs are ineffective or unsuitable, you may be prescribed another painkiller such as paracetamol or codeine.

It may seem strange, but lying down on the side of your chest that hurts may also help reduce the pain.

Treating the underlying cause

It may also be necessary to treat the underlying cause of your pleurisy.

If you have pleurisy caused by a bacterial infection, you will need a course of antibiotics. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this may be either in the form of tablets or injections. Combinations of different antibiotics are usually used.

However, if you have pleurisy caused by a viral infection, further treatment may not be required because the infection will usually resolve on its own after a few days.

In cases where your symptoms are particularly severe or you are already in poor health, you may need to be admitted to hospital so your body’s functions can be supported until your condition stabilises.

Pleural effusion

In some cases, pleurisy causes a build up of excess fluid around the lungs called pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion can result in shortness of breath that gets progressively worse. This is more likely to occur in cases of pleurisy caused by a pulmonary embolism or a bacterial infection.

If pleural effusion does not clear up as your pleurisy is treated, or if you are very short of breath, a tube will need to be inserted so the fluid can be drained away.

The tube may be inserted either using general anaesthetic (where you are asleep) or local anaesthetic (you are awake and the area where the tube is inserted is numbed).

If a lot of fluid has to be drained away, you may need to stay in hospital for a few days.