Intermittent pain throughout the chest

Intermittent chest pain is something that patients should pay special attention to, because many diseases can cause this symptom, such as pneumothorax, tuberculosis and pleurisy, which are all culprits of this symptom. These diseases are serious and risky and require timely treatment. Below, we will introduce in detail the three symptoms that cause constant chest pain.

1. Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax refers to the entry of gas into the pleural cavity, causing a state of gas accumulation, which is called pneumothorax. It is mostly caused by rupture of lung tissue and visceral pleura due to lung disease or external force, or rupture of tiny emphysematous bubbles near the surface of the lung, causing air in the lungs and bronchi to escape into the pleural cavity. Pneumothorax caused by chest wall or lung trauma is called traumatic pneumothorax; pneumothorax caused by spontaneous rupture of lung tissue due to disease is called "spontaneous pneumothorax"; if air is artificially injected into the pleural cavity for treatment or diagnosis, it is called "artificial pneumothorax". Pneumothorax can be divided into closed pneumothorax, open pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax is more common in young and middle-aged men or those suffering from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and tuberculosis. This disease is one of the pulmonary emergencies. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening, but it can be cured with timely treatment.

2. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can invade many organs, with pulmonary tuberculosis infection being the most common. People who excrete bacteria are an important source of infection. A person does not necessarily develop tuberculosis after being infected with tuberculosis bacteria. Clinical illness may only occur when the body's resistance is reduced or cell-mediated allergic reactions increase. If diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately, most patients can recover clinically.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis belongs to the genus Mycobacterium in the family Mycobacterium, order Actinomycetales, and is a pathogenic, acid-resistant bacterium. It is mainly divided into human, cow, bird, mouse and other types. Those that are pathogenic to humans are mainly human-type bacteria, while bovine-type bacteria rarely cause infection. The drug resistance of tuberculosis bacteria can be formed by the development of innate drug-resistant bacteria in the bacterial flora, or it can be caused by the rapid development of resistance to the drug when a single anti-tuberculosis drug is used in the human body, that is, the acquisition of drug-resistant bacteria. Drug-resistant bacteria can cause difficulties in treatment and affect the efficacy of treatment.

3. Pleurisy

Pleurisy refers to inflammation of the pleura caused by pathogenic factors (usually viruses or bacteria) irritating the pleura, also known as "pleurisy". There may be fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (exudative pleurisy) or no fluid accumulation (dry pleurisy). After the inflammation is controlled, the pleura may return to normal, or the two layers of pleura may adhere to each other. The main clinical manifestations are chest pain, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even difficulty breathing. It is more common in young people and children.