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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can An Atypical Pneumonia Cause Fluid Around A Lung?

Hi Doctor: My mom was just released from hospital into physical rehab facility. The rehab said she is running a fever of 101 which was just brought down with Tylenol. She was treated in hospital for fluid around left lung and still awaiting results of thoracentisis fluid sample. The first draw was negative but they are doing a second. The doctors don t know if she has a magligancy or if she just has an infection. My question is - could an atypical pneumonia cause fluid around only one lung and possible be cured with antibiotics? I don t know why they kept saying it probably isn t pneumonia but a malignancy. Sorry for the long question.
Wed, 24 Dec 2014
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
But pleural effusion (fluid around lung) in old age (age more than 55) patients, are having diagnostic problem due to possibility of malignancy.
The common causes for pleural effusion in old age are
1. Tuberculosis
2. Bacterial infection
3. Malignancy
4. Cardiac cause
Since you are saying that antibiotics are not working to reduce effusion, possibility of tuberculosis ,malignancy and atypical bacterial infection is more.
And yes, infection can cause unilateral effusion.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done pleural biopsy abd repeat pleural fluid analysis.
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Can An Atypical Pneumonia Cause Fluid Around A Lung?

Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem. But pleural effusion (fluid around lung) in old age (age more than 55) patients, are having diagnostic problem due to possibility of malignancy. The common causes for pleural effusion in old age are 1. Tuberculosis 2. Bacterial infection 3. Malignancy 4. Cardiac cause Since you are saying that antibiotics are not working to reduce effusion, possibility of tuberculosis ,malignancy and atypical bacterial infection is more. And yes, infection can cause unilateral effusion. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done pleural biopsy abd repeat pleural fluid analysis.