Key Points

• Pleural hydatidosis is a significant health problem in regions where sheep and dogs are raised and cohabit.
• Pleural hydatidosis is always secondary to the rupture of hydatid cysts located in organs adjacent to the pleura.
• Treatment of the initial accident in pleural hydatidosis should be done on an urgent basis with tube drainage of the pleural space.
• Pleuropulmonary contamination is the most common complication of amebic hepatic abscesses.
• All pleural effusions secondary to amebiasis should be drained.
• Pleural actinomycosis is usually secondary to lung infection, which is mostly due to aspiration.
• Pleural aspergillosis is an extremely serious illness that cannot be eradicated unless the infected space is obliterated.