Is Pleurisy Contagious?

Although the underlying causes of pleurisy may have a large number of symptoms, a common feature in patients with pleurisy is having a "plural rub," a situation in which the two membranes (parietal and visceral pleura) move together to cause friction and pain that is usually sharp. The pain is usually localized to the area that is inflamed and is increased when the patient coughs, sneezes or tries to take a deep breath. During the physical exam, a doctor may hear reduced breath sounds, wheezing and/or rapid shallow breathing.

Such findings usually cause the health-care professional to order tests like a chest X-ray, CT of the chest, and/or other tests, depending upon the health-care professional's suspicion of an underlying cause of pleurisy. Often, an EKG and blood tests are done to determine whether a medical emergency such as a heart attack has occurred. Consequently, it is important to have a health-care professional quickly diagnose a person that develops the common symptoms of pleurisy.

Pleurisy is not spread from person to person; however, it may spread within the individual to occupy more space. This occurs when the underlying infectious causes further spread into the pleural space or when noninfectious causes result in fluid increases in the pleural space. In some people, both infection and fluid can increase (spread) simultaneously in the pleural space.