Pleurodynia is a painful condition caused by a coxsackievirus B infection that affects striated muscle tissue in the chest, causing severe chest pains and difficulty breathing. It is more common in tropical regions and areas with hot, humid summer seasons. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve symptoms while the virus runs its course for one to two weeks.
Pleurodynia is a painful medical condition that can result from a coxsackievirus B (CVB) infection. When CVB enters the lungs or gastrointestinal tract, it rapidly migrates into the bloodstream and affects striated muscle tissue in the chest. Sudden and severe chest pains and difficulty breathing may occur. The virus could also settle in lung tissue and heart muscle, causing life-threatening complications. No current antiviral drugs have been found effective in treating pleurodynia, so patients typically receive anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve symptoms while the virus runs its course for one to two weeks.
CVB is a very common virus, but most people have strong enough immune systems to prevent the pathogen from causing serious complications such as pleurodynia. Young children and people with immunodeficiency disorders are at the highest risk of developing pleurodynia. The infection is more common in tropical regions and areas with hot, humid summer seasons. A person can get an infection by inhaling airborne pathogens or by ingesting contaminated food or drink. The virus is highly contagious and outbreaks are possible if infected patients are not quarantined and treated immediately.
The first symptoms of CVB infection are usually fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. If the lungs are affected, a person may develop a dry cough and sore throat. Once the CVB reaches the muscle tissue along the rib cage, it causes contractions and inflammation that result in immediate twinges of almost unbearable pain. Episodes generally last less than a minute, but may occur in succession several times an hour. Severe episodes can cause breathing difficulties, headaches, and possibly unconsciousness.
Emergency room doctors can diagnose pleurodynia by testing blood, stool, and mucus samples for the presence of CVB. Chest x-rays are also usually given to make sure the chest pains are not related to other causes. Imaging tests can also reveal serious damage to the lungs, heart muscle, or skeletal muscle.
Because CVB is contagious, patients are usually quarantined in sterile rooms after the diagnosis is confirmed. Doctors can give intravenous or oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, to reduce inflammation of muscle tissue and relieve acute pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs don’t eliminate the virus, but they can significantly reduce the severity and frequency of gripping muscle attacks. Patients are instructed to drink plenty of fluids and rest for several days to give their bodies time to heal. Most cases of pleurodynia clear up in about a week without causing any lasting health problems.
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