A pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural cavity—the space between the two layers of the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs—and causes a lung to collapse, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath.
A pneumothorax may occur spontaneously—more commonly in tall, thin young men—or following a chest injury. A pneumothorax may also occur as a complication of conditions such as a chest infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, or lung cancer.
A penetrating chest injury may cause a tension pneumothorax where, with each breath, more air is drawn into the pleural cavity. This prevents blood from returning to the heart from the lungs, causing fainting and shock; a tension pneumothorax can be life-threatening.
A small pneumothorax may clear up without treatment in a few days.
A large pneumothorax or a tension pneumothorax may be treated by inserting a tube or hollow needle into the chest to allow the air to escape.

Othere related diseases

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also called obstructive airways disease, refers to long-term damage to the airways, causing breathing difficulty. ...

CROUP
In croup (medically known as laryngotracheitis), the upper airways become inflamed and narrowed, producing hoarseness, a harsh, grating sound while breathing in...

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition in which a faulty gene causes body secretions to be abnormal, especially in the lungs and digestive system, leadi...

DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM
With a deviated nasal septum, the partition that separates the nostrils (which is called the nasal septum) is shifted to one side.
A deviated septum may b...

EPIGLOTTITIS
Epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the epiglottis (the flap of tissue behind the tongue that prevents food from entering the airw...

FUNCTIONAL DYSPHONIA
Voice overuse Functional dysphonia is the medical term for abnormalities of the voice that are not due to any underlying disorder. Typical abnormalities may in...

HAY FEVER
Allergic rhinitis Seasonal allergic rhinitis In hay fever (also called seasonal allergic rhinitis), the lining of the nose becomes inflamed due to an allergic ...

HERPANGINA
Herpangina is a throat infection caused by a specific group of viruses known as enteroviruses, most commonly by coxsackieviruses—a group of viruses that can c...