Pediatric tuberculous pleurisy

Tuberculous pleurisy is an exudative inflammation caused by tuberculosis bacteria that invade the pleura directly from the primary lesion near the pleura, or spread to the pleura through lymphatic blood. Often accompanied by pleural effusion, due to the higher protein in tuberculous pleurisy exudate, it is easy to cause pleural adhesion and hypertrophy. Pleuritis is often unilateral, and bilaterals often suggest hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis. It is common in children over 3 years of age, and mainly occurs within 6 months of the primary infection. The primary lesions are mostly in the ipsilateral lung and often cannot be found. The incidence is related to the high sensitivity of children to tuberculosis. Clinically, it is often divided into three types: dry pleurisy, exudative pleurisy, and tuberculous empyema (rare).