Pleurisy

2007-12-01T14:18:00.000-08:00

Pleurisy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pleurisy Classification & external resources
ICD-10
J 90., R 09.1
ICD-9
511
DiseasesDB
29361
MeSH
D010998

Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs, which can cause painful respiration (also called pleuritic chest pain) and other symptoms. Pleurisy can be generated by a variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. The effects of pleurisy can often be felt long after the condition has gone away.

Symptoms

Fever
Cough
Chills
Shortness of breath
Weight loss
Poor appetite
Sharp chest pain with breathing. Pain can limit the movement on the side of the chest with pleurisy.
Rapid shallow breaths
Inability to take a deep breath
Itching in sites on the back (near the site of the lungs, but no visible rashes)
Dizziness

Famous Cases

Robert Chesebrough, a British-born chemist and inventor of petroleum jelly (trade-named Vaseline), once suffered a bout of pleurisy; being a strong believer in his invention (Vaseline), he had his body completely covered in the substance. He soon recovered.
Benjamin Franklin was diagnosed in 1726-7 at the age of 21. He recovered and went on to become a Founding Father of the United States.
William Wordsworth, English poet, died after being diagnosed with pleurisy in 1850.
Auschwitz Holocaust survivor Manfred Wolf, after being liberated on May 5, 1945 from Mauthausen, was diagnosed with pleurisy by a doctor in Reggio Emilia, Italy, while enroute to Palestine (now Israel). He was healed and now resides in Los Angeles, and is 82.
Hernán Cortés, most important leader of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, died from a case of pleurisy on December 2, 1547 at age 62.
Raymond III of Tripoli, Crusader opposed to the King of Jerusalem and alternatively an ally and opponent of Saladin, died in 1187.
Author Doris Kearns Goodwin, in her book Team of Rivals, suggested that Tad Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, died of pleurisy, although other experts believe it may have been tuberculosis.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was diagnosed with pleurisy in April 2007.
Actor Laurence Olivier was recovering from pleurisy while filming the TV film The Ebony Tower, in 1984.
Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner, died of pleurisy in 1843.
Blessed Jacinta Marto of Fatima developed the disease and had surgery for it. She died not long after.
Katherine Mansfield, modernist writer, developed pleurisy in November 1917. The condition took her to recover in the south of France; however, it may have contributed to future respiratory health problems leading to her death, an effect of a violent hemorrahaging coughing fit, in 1922 at the age of 34.
The great tenor, Enrico Caruso, was said to have developed the disease, but it was not diagnosed in time. He died in Naples, Italy in his bed in a great deal of pain.
New York City musician Justin Brannan was in a hospital for 2 months with pleurisy in early 2001.
The Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina died of the disease in 1594.
English poet and writer Thomas Hardy fell ill with pleurisy in December 1927, and died in 1928.
Drummer Ringo Starr of The Beatles contracted pleurisy in 1953 at age 13, which caused him to miss a great deal of school.
Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova died in 1931 at the age of 50 from pleurisy.
Charlemagne died in 814 at the age of 72 from pleurisy.
Toronto writer Cheyenne Lee suffered through several bouts throughout the 1990s
Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife survived a shipwreck off the coast of Morocco, only to die of pleurisy a month later in Egypt.
Richard McVeigh, second cousin of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy Mcveigh, suffered from pleurisy when he was 9. He famously described symptoms as a "red liquid around the heart." Although McVeigh made a total recovery, the illness left him malnourished and underweight for the rest of his life. It also contributed to his pale skin and aged appearance. Distraught over the loss of what he called his "boyish" good looks McVeigh found it difficult to maintain a job and relationships and eventually ending up homeless.
Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani suffered through several bouts during his childhood.
Emma Searle-Barnes, Leicester University Lecturer and noted fashion photographer.(died 2007)
Muhammad II, shah of persia died in 1221 after months of being pursued by Mongol warriors

References in literature

In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, reference is made to Laura Wingfield's bout with pleurosis during high school. At the time, Laura entertained timid but romantic feelings for Jim, who upon asking about her absence, mistakenly hears her say "blue roses" and carelessly adopts the moniker for her.
In Eugene O'Neill's Beyond the Horizon, the main character of Robert comes down with pleurisy.
In The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe, the main character, Colin Smith, contracts pleurisy.
In the J. D. Salinger short story Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, the protagonist Buddy Glass is recovering from a bout of pleurisy (and has his chest tightly bound as a result).
In Hill Hawk Hattie, the mother of Hattie Belle Basket is diagnosed with pleurisy, mentioning pain in her chest and shortness of breath, the mother succumbs to the disease.

References

Kenny, Dr. (2002). "Pleurisy and Pleuritic Pain". Patient UK. Retrieved on 2006-03-14.
"Pleurisy". eCureMe. Retrieved on 2006-03-14.

v • d • e Symptoms and signs (R00-R69, 780-789)
Circulatory andrespiratory systems
Tachycardia - Bradycardia - Palpitation - Heart murmur - Epistaxis - Hemoptysis - Cough - abnormalities of breathing (Dyspnea, Orthopnoea, Stridor, Wheeze, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Hyperventilation, Mouth breathing, Hiccup, Bradypnea, Hypoventilation) - Chest pain - Asphyxia - Pleurisy - Respiratory arrest - Sputum - Bruit/Carotid bruit - Rales
Digestive system and abdomen
Abdominal pain - Acute abdomen - Nausea - Vomiting - Heartburn - Dysphagia - Flatulence - Burping - Fecal incontinence - Encopresis - Hepatomegaly - Splenomegaly - Hepatosplenomegaly - Jaundice - Ascites - Fecal occult blood - Halitosis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue
disturbances of skin sensation (Hypoesthesia, Paresthesia, Hyperesthesia) - Rash - Cyanosis - Pallor - Flushing - Petechia - Desquamation - Induration - Diaphoresis
Nervous andmusculoskeletal systems
abnormal involuntary movements (Tremor, Spasm, Fasciculation, Athetosis) - Gait abnormality - lack of coordination (Ataxia, Dysmetria, Dysdiadochokinesia, Hypotonia) - Tetany - Meningism - Hyperreflexia
Urinary system
Dysuria - Vesical tenesmus - Urinary incontinence - Urinary retention - Oliguria - Polyuria - Nocturia - Extravasation of urine
Cognition, perception,emotional state and behaviour
Anxiety - Somnolence - Coma - Amnesia (Anterograde amnesia, Retrograde amnesia) - Dizziness/Vertigo - smell and taste (Anosmia, Ageusia, Parosmia, Parageusia)
Speech and voice
speech disturbances (Dysphasia, Aphasia, Dysarthria) - symbolic dysfunctions (Dyslexia, Alexia, Agnosia, Apraxia, Acalculia, Agraphia) - voice disturbances (Dysphonia, Aphonia)
General symptoms and signs
Fever (Hyperpyrexia) - Headache - Chronic pain - Malaise - Fatigue - Fainting (Vasovagal syncope) - Febrile seizure - Shock (Cardiogenic shock) - Lymphadenopathy - Edema (Peripheral edema, Anasarca) - Hyperhidrosis (Sleep hyperhidrosis) - Delayed milestone - Failure to thrive - food and fluid intake (Anorexia, Polydipsia, Polyphagia) - Cachexia - Xerostomia - Clubbing

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