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Infective causes

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

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

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