How Long Does Pleurisy Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 2 Days to 2 Weeks

There are many diseases in the world, some can be cured and treated while some cannot be. Some conditions are present in humans since they were born, while some start creeping up after a while. Some conditions can be easily cured, while some need more treatment and special care. The treatment for any condition or disease is determined by the doctors, only after diagnosing the underlying cause can they prescribe the right medicine. It is hence necessary for the patient to let the doctor know what the exact symptoms are, and how long it has been going on.

Though every illness and health condition can be troublesome, the ones that specifically affect the heart and the lungs are quite dangerous. It is better to recognize their symptoms and get them treated as soon as one can. One such condition is Pleurisy, which is also known as pleuritis. Pleurisy is a condition that affects the lungs.

How Long Does Pleurisy Last?

Some conditions affect certain parts of the body, some affect the whole body, some can be lived with, while some cannot. Wherever the conditions start, the symptoms start spreading through the whole body and messes up the regularity of the body. Pleurisy affects the lungs’ linings. The lining of the lungs is the one that lubricates the surface between the lungs and chest wall, and when the person is affected with pleurisy, the lining will be affected, it can cause inflammation to a great extent.

The condition can last for days, weeks, sometimes months, and even years. Yet usually, when treated right, pleurisy goes away in about 1 to 3 months completely.

Some patients report that their pleurisy went away in around 2 weeks with the right treatment, while some said that it lasted for around 2 months even after treatment. There are many symptoms of the disease, and also the underlying cause can vary based on factors. The cause of pleurisy, the patient’s health conditions determines the treatment and how long it lasts in the person’s body. The most common symptom of this pleurisy is the sharp pain one experiences while breathing, and there are some others too.

Why Does Pleurisy Last That Long?

Pleurisy is caused by a viral infection, a result of infections like bronchitis, and anything else that can spread along the lining of the lungs.

Though viral infections can be the main cause, the other causes can include wounds, injuries, fractures on the rib, and also any sort of hard trauma that might affect the lungs, chronic conditions, tumors in the lungs, blood clots, and even recovery from heart surgery. When the symptoms are not recognized and treated properly, it could even cause death.

Some people try to take care of this on their own, but pleurisy is a condition that should be treated by doctors and medicinal experts. Different symptoms go away at different times. Most of the symptoms go away in around 2 weeks, while some can stick around for even 2 months.

When treated right, pleurisy can last from 2 days to a week. Yet, if the body is already weak and cannot withstand diseases, it can even last for 2 to 3 months. The symptoms can last for 2 to 3 months and for people who have pleurisy, the breathing gets worse with every breath. Other symptoms include rapid, shallow breathing, dry coughs, extreme weakness in the body, chills all over the body, and feeling feverish.

Conclusion

The reason the patient experiences shortness of breath is because of the large amounts of fluid present in the pleural space, which makes the lungs impossible to expand well, which is called pleural effusion.

There are a few right ways to diagnose pleurisy and the ways include chest X-rays or CT scans, thoracentesis, and throat swabs, which are medically called sputum samples. Blood tests are also drawn to find out if the main cause of the condition is any sort of viral infection. In thoracentesis, the fluid from the pleural space will be drained and it will be tested.

References

1. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0501/p1357.html
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369215393612