Pleurisy

(Pleuritis)

How to Say It: PLUR-is-see

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

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

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:

Having a lung disorder
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Being around asbestos
A chest injury
Heart failure
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammation of the pancreas
Arthritis
Cancer
Chronic liver and kidney problems
Sickle cell disease
A drug reaction

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:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed December 31, 2020.

Pleurisy. Cedars-Sinai website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
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

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