Definition

Pleurisy is swelling of the two layers of tissue (pleura) around the lungs. The inner layer is attached to the lungs. The outer layer is attached to the chest wall. It can cause chest pain and make it hard to breathe.

Pleura of the Lungs
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Causes

Causes may be:

  • A viral infection, such as influenza
  • Lung infections from bacteria, such as tuberculosis or parasites like amebiasis
  • Pleural effusions—fluid build up in pleura
  • Pulmonary embolism—a blood clot that travels to the lungs
  • Problems with the immune system, such as lupus
  • A collapsed lung
  • Cancer in the lung
  • Heart disease
  • Familial Mediterranean fever

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

Symptoms

Problems may be:

  • Sharp, stabbing pain in the side and lower part of the chest
  • Pain along the shoulders, neck, and belly
  • Pain when you move your chest, such as breathing and coughing
  • A dry cough
  • Fever
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Rapid and shallow breathing

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. A diagnosis may be made based on the pain. Tests may be done to look for a cause.

Pictures may be taken of your chest. This can be done with:

Other tests may be:

  • Blood tests
  • Thoracentesis to remove and test fluid from the pleural space
  • Biopsy to remove and test a sample of pleura

Treatment

The cause will need to be treated. This may include medicine or surgery.

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent this health problem. Managing the conditions that may cause it can help.

RESOURCES:

American Lung Association
http://www.lung.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca

REFERENCES:

Pleural effusion. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/mediastinal-and-pleural-disorders/pleural-effusion. Accessed December 31, 2020.

Pleurisy. Cedars-Sinai website. Available at: http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Pleurisy.aspx. Accessed December 31, 2020.

Pleuritis—approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/pleuritis-approach-to-the-patient. Accessed December 31, 2020.

Reamy BV, Williams PM, et al. Pleuritic Chest Pain: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Sep 1;96(5):306-312.

Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD  Last Updated: 12/31/2020