The pleural effusion status treated in Respiration Department of Bach Mai hospital between 1996 and 2000

ABSTRACT

Pleural effusion was studied on 548 patients (322 males and 226 females aged 17-80 years old) at Bach Mai hospital in the period of 1996-2000. The incidence was higher in male than in female subjects. The elderly of < 60 year -old -age group accounted for 73% of cases. Tuberculosis was the most usual cause. Common symptoms were lung pain, cough, diphneoa, fever and the syndroma of “3 decreases”. The mean duration of treatment was 18.9 – 26.3 days, 17.5% of patients were fully recovered, 64.2% partly recovered and 16.1% none.