Definition:
Empyema is a condition characterized by accumulation of pus in a body cavity usually in the cavity between the lung and the membrane surrounding the lung.
Diagnosis:
Chest x-ray provides an image of the lung and helps determine the condition of the lung.
Computerized Tomography (CT) scan provides a more detailed and clearer image of the lung and its surrounding.
Other diagnostic procedures used in diagnosis of empyema include Thoracentesis and pleural fluid gram stain and culture.
Treatment:
Treatment is aimed at curing and controlling the infection by means of antibiotics and removing the accumulated pus in the lung cavity by using a chest tube to totally drain the pus. In cases when expansion of the lung is not enough, the surgeon will perform decortication, which is a procedure that peels away the lining of the lung.
Symptoms and Signs:
A person with empyema may experience some or all of the following symptoms: dry cough, fever that is high enough to develop chills, general feelings of discomfort and uneasiness, too much sweating, chest pain that worsens during deep inhalation, shortness of breath and loss of weight.
Causes:
Empyema is caused by infection that usually spreads from the lung after a previous pneumonia, cause a large collection of pus and fluid in the cavity between the lungs and its membrane resulting to pressure in the lungs that produces the symptoms of the disorder.
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
