infective causes
Last reviewed 01/2021
The infective causes of exudative pleural effusion include:
- pneumonia:
- post-infective pleural effusions are most common following bacterial infections
- if treatment is inadequate there may be progression to an empyema
- viral infections occasionally lead to effusions, especially as part of the pleurocardial involvement of Coxsackie B infection
- rarely, infectious mononucleosis
- rarely, actinomycosis and other fungal infections
- tuberculosis
- subphrenic abscess - effusion most often on the right