India, June 21 -- There is increasing awareness of the problem of pleural effusion, often referred to as 'water on the lungs' in common parlance. The lungs are enclosed by a lining called the pleura, which consists of two thin membranes with a tiny space in between. Pleural effusion refers to the presence of excess fluid within this space. In fact, the fluid lies outside the lungs, not within them. The most common causes of pleural effusion in India are lung tuberculosis and pneumonia, although it can also occur in diseases of the liver, heart, kidneys and other organs. Malignancies and rheumatic diseases can also cause pleural effusion. The characteristics of the fluid generally differ depending on the underlying condition. Small effusions may cause no symptoms, while larger collections of fluid can lead to a feeling of heaviness in the chest, cough, and breathlessness. Diagnosis is established through radiological examination of the chest with the help of a chest X-ray, ultrasound, and CT scan of the chest. In most situations, examination of the fluid is necessary to determine the cause of fluid formation. Aspiration of the fluid is therefore required for several different investigations. Treatment involves removing the fluid and, more importantly, addressing the underlying cause of the effusion. Pleural effusion is a symptom of an underlying disease. It serves as a clue that helps identify the cause, which should be diagnosed according to a doctor's advice. Any new chest pain or breathing difficulty requires urgent evaluation. Patients should not rely solely on drugs that cause excessive urination (diuretics). It is also important to remember that pleural effusion is not necessarily tuberculosis. The author of this article is an MBBS, DNB, DM pulmonary and critical care medicine (PGI Chandigarh), FCCP; consultant pulmonologist, Jindal Clinics, Centre for Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, SCO 21, Sector 20-D, Chandigarh, who can be contacted at 9582469429...