Objective To elucidate the clinical features and treatment of parapneumonic effusions ( PPE) . Methods Ninety-seven patients were analyzed retrospectively in Guangzhou First Municipal People’s Hospital fromJanuary 2004 to July 2008. The data of 54 patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion ( CPPE) and 9 cases with empyema were compared with 49 patients with tuberculosis pleural effusions. Results Of 97 cases, 34 patients with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion ( UPPE) were treated with antibiotics only, whose hospitalization time was ( 14. 8 ±7. 6) days, and 27 cases were cured ( 79. 4% ) . Of 54 CPPE patients, 42 were treated with antibiotics and pleural space drainage with central venous catheter, whose hospitalization time was ( 21. 7 ±13. 0) days, and 32 were cured ( 76. 2% ) . Another12 CPPE patients were treated with interapleural urokinase and drainage from the chest tube, whose hospitalization time was ( 22. 5 ±9. 3) days, and 8 were cured ( 66. 7% ) . Nine cases with empyema were rinsed the pleural with metronidazole solution, whose hospitalization time was ( 25. 7 ±17. 4) days, and 8 were cured( 89. 0% ) . Compared with the tuberculous pleurisy patients, most CPPE and empyema occurred in middle and old aged patients with an average age of ( 63. 3 ±19. 3) years. Polykaryocyte and lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly. Adenosine deaminase ( ADA) was lt; 45 U/L in most UPPE and empyema patients, but was gt; 45 U/L in 7 cases ( 11% ) . Conclusions UPPE is simple and preferably treated with antibiotics alone. While CPPE and empyema should be drainaged as early as possible, and the low-dose urokinase may be helpful. The level of ADA can not absolutely distinguish parapneumonic effusion from tuberculous pleural effusion.