Is Pleurisy Contagious?

Pleurisy (also termed pleuritis) is inflammation of the double layered membrane that surrounds the lungs termed the pleura or plural membranes. These membranes surround the lungs (visceral pleura) and line the ribcage (parietal pleura).

The pleura lubricate the lungs, and this allows the lung tissue to easily inflate and deflate as a person breathes in and out. In between the plural membranes is a very thin area containing fluid that allows easy non-painful movement of the lung tissue. When pleurisy occurs, several things may happen. If inflammation occurs, the two layers of the membrane can become rough and as they attempt to slide, the rough surfaces cause pain. In other instances, fluid can begin to build up between the membranes and put pressure on the lungs that, in turn, reduces the lungs' ability to move normally and can cause shortness of breath. This situation is turned a "plural effusion." In some people, this pleural effusion can become infected, and inflammation of the pleura can occur.

Some doctors believe that pleurisy is a symptom of an underlying condition and is not a condition itself. Classification of pleurisy can be acute, subacute, chronic and/or recurrent, depending upon the underlying condition causing pleurisy. In this article, pleurisy will be considered a term for a generalized condition that results in chest discomfort.

Most doctors agree that pleurisy is not contagious in itself; however, some of the underlying conditions that may cause pleurisy are considered contagious (for example, tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia and viral infections like influenza [the flu]).

Other diseases that can be the underlying cause of pleurisy are not contagious (for example, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and many others; sometimes the underlying cause of pleurisy is not known).