What Is Pleurisy And What Causes It?

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a rare blood condition where the red blood cells in an individual's bloodstream are shaped like narrow sickles instead of being rounded shapes, which keeps the red blood cells from being able to function properly. This causes a wide host of issues, including anemia, extreme fatigue, jaundice, swelling of the extremities, and chronic pain. Patients with this disease tend to have crises where they experience all of these symptoms quite severely due to a higher than normal buildup of sickle cells. During this time, the overall increase in inflammation and system-wide distress can make a patient end up with pleurisy. Keep in mind individuals with sickle cell disease can also have a life-threatening condition called acute chest syndrome, which causes trouble breathing and sharp chest pains. Therefore, it is important for patients with sickle cell disease to seek medical treatment if they have chest pain instead of simply assuming it is pleurisy.

Get to know more potential causes of pleurisy now.