Empyema

Key Features of Empyema:

Symptoms:

. Persistent productive cough

. Fever

. Chest tightness

. Pleuritic chest pain

. Night sweats

. Weight loss

Physical Examination:

1. Unilateral basal crackles

Imaging:

1. Unilateral lobar consolidation on chest X-ray

2. Possible pleural effusion

Laboratory Findings:

i. Elevated white blood cells (WBCs)

ii. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP)

Investigations:

. Pleural Aspiration: To confirm the diagnosis of empyema by identifying pus in the pleural space.