How do you treat a pleural rub?
Treatment For Pleural Friction Rub
- There is no treatment for pleural rub; rather, treatment is targeted towards the disease causing such an abnormal breath sound.
- Pleural rubs are usually indicative of pleurisy or other medical conditions affecting the chest cavity.
- Pleurisy is defined as the inflammation of the linings of the lungs and the chest. ...
What does a pleural rub sound like?
Pleural rubs are discontinuous or continuous, creaking or grating sounds. The sound has been described as similar to walking on fresh snow or a leather-on-leather type of sound. If the rubbing sound continues while the patient holds a breath, it may be a pericardial friction rub.
Does pleural rub go away?
Yes, a rub might stay for-ever-and-ever. Some things might even CAUSE a rub. I have a friend who had a rather nasty pleural effusion after surgery for a burst appendix, and had to have a chest tube inserted. She now has a very distinct pleural friction rub over her right lower lobe, posteriorly.
What does a pleural friction rub sound like?
Pleural friction rub is an abnormal lung sound which is caused by inflammation of the pleural layer of the lungs rubbing together. Pleural friction rub is heard on inspiration and expiration and sounds like a low-pitch harsh/grating noise. Pleural friction rubs may sound similar to pericardial friction rubs.
Introduction
A Pleural friction rub or Pleural rub, is an audible raspy breathing sound, a medical sign present in some patients with pleurisy and other conditions affecting the chest cavity. It can be noticed by listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually using a stethoscope on the lungs.
Causes
Pleurisy (pleuritis) : inflammation of the pleura tissues around lungs.
History and Physical Examination
V. Courtney Broaddus MD, in Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 2022
Enteroviruses
The onset of illness is abrupt in approximately 75% of patients. In the remainder, the onset of pleuritic chest pain is preceded by a prodrome of headache, malaise, anorexia, and vague myalgia lasting up to 10 days. Pain may be referred to the lower ribs or the sternum, and it can radiate to the shoulders, neck, or scapula.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
The usual incubation period for Legionella pneumonia is 2 to 10 days but can be longer. 214 Lethargy, headache, fever, recurring rigors, anorexia, and myalgias are frequent early symptoms. After several days, cough becomes more pronounced, with thin watery sputum or purulent sputum in up to half of cases.
THE SYSTEMIC SCLERODERMAS AND RELATED DISORDERS
Francesco Zulian, James T. Cassidy, in Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology (Sixth Edition), 2011
Pulmonary Complications of Abdominal Diseases
Approximately 20% to 40% of patients who die of chronic renal insufficiency have fibrinous pleuritis detected at autopsy. 136,149 This fibrinous pleuritis can be manifested as pleuritic chest pain with pleural friction rubs,150 pleural effusion, 151 or fibrothorax. 152,153
Palpation and Percussion of the Chest
Palpation of the chest is limited because the bony rib cage conceals many abnormalities of the underlying lungs.
Pulmonary Embolism
Steven E. Weinberger MD, FACP, ... Jess Mandel MD, FACP, in Principles of Pulmonary Medicine (Sixth Edition), 2014
Overview
Pleurisy occurs when the pleura — a membrane consisting of a layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and a layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs — becomes inflamed, causing chest pain.
Causes
A variety of underlying conditions can cause pleurisy. Causes include:
