A pleural effusion is a collection of fluid in the closed space (pleural cavity) between the lung and the thoracal wall (ribs and muscles). There are multiple reasons for an accumulation of liquid in this cavity. Patients experience symptoms such shortness of breath during exertion or rest, pain while breathing and coughing. To diagnose the causative disease doctors will aspirate the extra fluid out of the pleural cavity.
A pleural effusion is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity. A normal amount of pleural fluid which is about 5ml helps to lubricate the layer between the lung and the thoracal wall and facilitates breathing. However, when there is too much pleural fluid, medical problems such as difficulty in breathing or chest pain may occur.
The causes for pleural effusion may be various. These causes may be: congestive heart failure, lung embolism, lung infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis, liver cirrhosis, renal disease, tumors and autoimmune disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Pleural effusion is usually classified into two different types depending on its chemical composition: 1) An effusion not caused by infection (transudative): the fluid leaks into the pleural cavity. People with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis and lung embolism have this type of pleural effusion. 2) An effusion caused by infection (exudative): this type of pleural effusion is often caused by illnesses such as cancers, tumors, tuberculosis, or lung infections. People with pleural effusion may have symptoms such as difficulty breathing, pain while breathing, coughing, fever, hiccups and rapid breathing.
Treatments for pleural effusion strongly depend on the causing disease. However, the removal of extra fluid in the pleural cavity is usually the first step in alleviating breathing problems. The removed fluid will be tested to find out the underlying disease. Patients usually have to stay in hospital for a complete work-up and then treatment of the disease causing the effusion may begin.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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