An inflammatory process affecting the mediastinum.
Symptoms of Mediastinitis
The following features are indicative of Mediastinitis:
shortness of breath
cough
sore throat
swelling of the chest
irritation of the chest area between the lungs
pleuritic chest pain
hemoptysis
chills
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Common Causes of Mediastinitis
The following are the most common causes of Mediastinitis:
bacterial infection
histoplasmosis
sarcoidosis
tuberculosis
Risk Factors for Mediastinitis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Mediastinitis:
esophagus disease
diabetes mellitus
problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract
recent chest surgery or endoscopy
weakened immune system
Prevention of Mediastinitis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Mediastinitis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
keep surgical wounds clean and dry after surgery
Occurrence of Mediastinitis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Mediastinitis cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Mediastinitis most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged > 50 years
Common Gender
Mediastinitis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Mediastinitis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Mediastinitis:
Chest CT scan: To see the size, shape, and position of the lungs and structures in the chest
Chest X-ray: To create pictures of the structures in and around the chest
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: To check chest infection
Doctor for Diagnosis of Mediastinitis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Mediastinitis:
Pulmonologist
Complications of Mediastinitis if untreated
Yes, Mediastinitis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Mediastinitis is left untreated:
spread of the infection to the bloodstream, blood vessels, bones, heart, lungs
scarring
Procedures for Treatment of Mediastinitis
The following procedures are used to treat Mediastinitis: