Pleurisy
(Pleuritis)

Bronchitis Slideshow Asthma Myths Quiz Slideshow

Medical Author: George Schiffman, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What is pleurisy?
• What causes pleurisy?
• How does the pleura work?
• What are the symptoms of pleurisy?
• How is pleurisy diagnosed?
• How is pleurisy treated?
• Can pleurisy be prevented?
• Pleurisy At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Pleurisy (Pleuritis) - How Was Diagnosis Established

Featured pleurisy (pleuritis) patient discussions on diagnosis "I just got out of the hospital today. A couple of days ago I felt a dull pain in my left chest. It was just an uncomfortable felling like a pulled muscle. I wanted to reach in there and stretch it out. Then it got to where it felt like a mass in my lung, like a ball or something. I then got real sharp pains when I would breathe in deep, the pain shot up to my shoulders and under my arm, so of course I think I am having a heart attack. They did all the blood tests, EKG’s and things that you have all discussed. No heart problems at all. They say its dry pleurisy and it is like sand paper. All I know is it is very painful and constant pain. I am wondering now why so many of you got antibiotics and I didn't? They gave me strong Ibuprophen and Oxycodone?" "I am finishing my third week with pleurisy. It is getting better but slowly. I have tightness in my chest, occasionally shortness of breath, and increasing fatigue as the day progresses. My doctor said it is a viral infection that will go away. I'm still waiting for a good day. The additional complication in my case is that I told the doctor I was having tightness in my chest and difficulty breathing. So he put me in the hospital overnight for a bunch of cardiac tests. No heart problems. I complained of tightness not pain but, pleurisy can mimic some cardiac symptoms. Be aware." "I had a persistent, bad cough for too long -- almost two months! But it started with an allergy to mold, as I was in contact with a lot of mold spores, which gave me asthma and started the coughing. I had bad pains in my back and the coughing was so hard, I had to go to my doctor. She listened extensively and heard the “rubbing.” That is how my pleurisy was diagnosed" Read All Comments on Pleurisy (Pleuritis) » Top Searched Pleurisy (Pleuritis) Terms: symptoms, treatment, contagious, viral, causes, azithromycin, outlook, prednisone, lung cancer, pleuritis, bronchial, blood in sputum, pleural effusion, pericarditis, pneumonia, Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is pleurisy?

Pleurisy is inflammation of the linings around the lungs (the pleura). There are two layers of pleura: one covering the lung (termed the visceral pleura) and the other covering the inner wall of the chest (the parietal pleura). These two layers are lubricated by pleural fluid.

Pleurisy is frequently associated with the accumulation of extra fluid in the space between the two layers of pleura. This fluid is referred to as a pleural effusion. Pleurisy is also referred to as pleuritis.

The pain fibers of the lung are located in the pleura. When this tissue becomes inflamed, it results in a sharp pain in the chest that is worse with breathing in, aka pleurisy. Other symptoms of pleurisy can include cough, chest tenderness, and shortness of breath.

What causes pleurisy?

Pleurisy can be caused by any of the following conditions:

• Infections: bacterial (including those that cause tuberculosis), fungus, parasites, or viruses
• Inhaled chemicals or toxic substances: exposure to some cleaning agents like ammonia
• Collagen vascular diseases: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancers: for example, the spread of lung cancer or breast cancer to the pleura
• Tumors of the pleura: mesothelioma or sarcoma
• Congestion: heart failure
• Pulmonary embolism: blood clot inside the blood vessels to the lungs. These clots sometimes severely reduce blood and oxygen to portions of the lung and can result in death to that portion of lung tissue (termed lung infarction). This, too, can cause pleurisy.
• Obstruction of lymph channels: as a result of centrally located lung tumors
• Trauma: rib fractures or irritation from chest tubes used to drain air or fluid from the pleural cavity in the chest
• Certain drugs: drugs that can cause lupus-like syndromes (such as Hydralazine, Procan, Dilantin, and others)
• Abdominal processes: such as pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver
• Lung infarction: lung tissue death due to lack of oxygen from poor blood supply

Pleurisy (Pleuritis) - How Was Diagnosis Established

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

How was the diagnosis of your pleurisy (pleuritis) established?

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