Which symptoms are associated with pleural effusion?

Which symptoms are associated with pleural effusion?

• A. Fever, productive cough, wheezing
• B. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
• C. Headache, dizziness, confusion
• D. Progressive dyspnea, cough, sharp pain with inspiration, and decreased or absent breath sounds

Answer: (D)

Pleural effusion is fluid in the pleural space that limits how well the lungs can expand. This collection of fluid commonly causes progressive shortness of breath and a cough as the lung can’t inflate fully. The pleural irritation from the fluid produces sharp, pleuritic chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration. As the effusion increases, breath sounds over the affected area become decreased or absent because the fluid dampens the sound and the lung isn’t fully expanding there. You might also hear dullness to percussion and see reduced chest expansion on the side of the effusion. The combination of shortness of breath, pleuritic pain, and decreased or absent breath sounds is the hallmark you’d expect with a pleural effusion. Fever with productive cough or symptoms like headache or GI pain are less characteristic of pleural effusion and point more toward infection or other conditions.

Pleural effusion is fluid in the pleural space that limits how well the lungs can expand. This collection of fluid commonly causes progressive shortness of breath and a cough as the lung can’t inflate fully. The pleural irritation from the fluid produces sharp, pleuritic chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration. As the effusion increases, breath sounds over the affected area become decreased or absent because the fluid dampens the sound and the lung isn’t fully expanding there. You might also hear dullness to percussion and see reduced chest expansion on the side of the effusion. The combination of shortness of breath, pleuritic pain, and decreased or absent breath sounds is the hallmark you’d expect with a pleural effusion. Fever with productive cough or symptoms like headache or GI pain are less characteristic of pleural effusion and point more toward infection or other conditions.