DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Pulmonary Disease

Pneumothorax

HIGH SEVERITY

Collapsed lung due to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall. Can be spontaneous (no obvious cause), traumatic (injury), or tension (life-threatening). Primary spontaneous occurs in tall, thin young men. Requires prompt treatment.

Global Affected

750.0K

Countries

89

Symptoms

Sudden chest pain
Shortness of breath
Rapid breathing
Tachycardia
Decreased breath sounds
Chest tightness
Cough
Anxiety

Treatment Options

Observation (small <2cm)
Supplemental oxygen
Needle aspiration
Chest tube insertion
Chemical pleurodesis
VATS surgery
Thoracotomy (rare)
Emergency needle decompression (tension)

Risk Factors

1Tall thin male
2Smoking
3COPD/emphysema
4Previous pneumothorax
5Marfan syndrome
6Ehlers-Danlos
7Lung disease (CF, TB, cancer)
8Mechanical ventilation
9Trauma
10Diving/flying (rapid pressure changes)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Chest X-ray
  • 2CT scan (if atypical)
  • 3Ultrasound (FAST exam)
  • 4Physical exam (decreased breath sounds)
  • 5ABG (blood gases)

Prognosis

Excellent with treatment. 30% recurrence rate after first episode, higher after second. Surgical intervention reduces recurrence to <5%. Tension pneumothorax has high mortality if untreated.

Prevention

  • Smoking cessation
  • Surgical pleurodesis (recurrent)
  • Avoidance of scuba diving/flying (until healed)
  • Genetic counseling (connective tissue disorders)
  • Prompt treatment of lung disease

Research Status

Observation for small, stable pneumothorax. Chest tube or needle aspiration for larger ones. Talc pleurodesis or surgery (VATS bullectomy, pleurectomy) for recurrent cases. Oxygen therapy accelerates reabsorption. Tension pneumothorax is emergency requiring immediate needle decompression.

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanBrazilMexicoRussiaChinaIndiaSwedenNorwayFinlandNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaTaiwanSingaporeHong KongMalaysiaThailandIndonesiaPhilippinesVietnamSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitBHOmanJordanLebanonSyriaIraqIranPakistanBangladeshLKMMKHLAMNKPUzbekistanKazakhstanKGTJTMAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMKMESerbiaXK

Sources

  • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumothorax
  • https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumothorax
  • https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17495-pneumothorax-collapsed-lung

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.