Empyema thoracis (ET) is defined as pus in the pleural space, either localized or involving entire cavity, due to diverse etiologies. In severe form, it may infiltrate extrapulmonary region. Clinical guideline describes 3 stages of parapneumonic effusion before developing into an ET, namely exudative stage, fibrinopurulent and organizing/late stage. We highlight a 59-year-old gentleman who pres...

Parapneumonic effusions in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) often prolong the period of ill-health and may be associated with increased mortality. This study set out to determine the patterns, risk factors, aetiology, and outcome of parapneumonic effusions among children admitted with CAP at a tertiary health facility in south-west Nigeria. All cases of childhood pneumonia, incl...

OBJECTIVE Pleural effusion (PE) adenosine deaminase (ADA) has good performance in detection of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). However, few study was conducted for its value in pediatric patients. To evaluate PE ADA in diagnosis of pediatric TPE, a retrospective study was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS 204 pediatric PE patients were enrolled, and then were grouped into TPE group (77 case...

The diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TBPE) is frequently problematic. Several markers of TBPE in pleural fluid have been evaluated, with different results. Pleural effusions from 96 patients were classified on the basis of definitive diagnosis as tuberculous (n = 39), neoplastic (n = 42) or parapneumonic (n = 15). Adenosine deaminase (ADA), ADA isoform ADA-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma, C...

Pleural effusion is a common complication of acute lung infection, with rising morbidity and mortality. If poorly treated, parapneumonic evolves to the fibrino-purulent stage wherein antibiotic therapy alone becomes inadequate. Chest CT gold standard diagnostic imaging tool, however, in resource-limited context, it may not be performed. ultrasound can therefore an alternative for drainage inter...

Rheumatic polymyalgia (RPM) is a relatively common inflammatory disease of unknown origin that presents almost exclusively in adults over the age of 50. It is characterized by morning pain and stiffness in the cervical region and in the pectoral and pelvic girdles and may be associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA).1 Pleural or pericardial effusion is rare in patients with RPM without GCA and...

BACKGROUND Pleural fluid loculations due to complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPE), empyema, tubercular effusion and traumatic hemothorax can be managed either by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or intrapleural ibrinolytic therapy (IPFT). The former is more invasive, not easily available and is also more expensive. On the other hand, IPFT is less invasive, cheaper, easily accessi...