Empyema: Clinical Features, Signs, and Respiratory Symptoms Explained

Empyema: Clinical Features, Signs, and Respiratory Symptoms Explained

Question. Outline the clinical features of empyema.

Answer. Empyema means the presence of pus in the pleural cavity.

Clinical Features Of Acute Empyema

Symptoms

1. Those of primary disease: Imperfect recovery in pneumonic cases, or sudden increase in fever with rigors.
2. Those due to mechanical effct: Pleuritic chest pain in early stage, dyspnea, cough and sputum.
3. Those due to toxemia: Malaise, anorexia, sweats and loss of weight.

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Respiratory Disease Symptoms

Signs clinical features of empyema.

1. Same as pleural effsion, i.e.

1. On inspection:

1. Presence of bilaterally symmetrical chest.
2. Restrictions of movements of chest on the side of effsion.

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2. On palpation:

1. Shifting of trachea and mediastinum to opposite side on pushing.
2. Diminishing of expansion of chest on involved side.
3. Absence of vocal fremitus on involved side.

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3. On percussion:

Stony dull percussion note on the involved side.

4. On auscultation:

1. Absence of breath sounds or diminishing of breath sounds over area of pleural effsion.
2. Amphoric bronchial breathing can be heard at apex of pleural effsion at interscapular region over the involved side.
3. Absence of vocal resonance.

5. Sometimes edema of chest wall is present.

6. Finger clubbing can develop within 2 to 3 weeks of onset.

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Respiratory Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of Empyema and How to Diagnose

Clinical Features of chronic empyema

1. Recurrent symptoms of chest pain and fever.
2. Loss of weight and anemia.
3. Clubbing of figers.
4. Chest wall deformity from firosis.
5. Chronic sinus tracts into the skin or lungs may develop.
6. When bronchopleural fitula is present, air can be heard (or felt) blowing through a patent sinus during coughing.