Health Library

Pleurisy

Pleuritis; Pleuritic chest pain

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain when you take a deep breath, sneeze, or cough. Often this chest pain feels sharp.

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Causes

Pleurisy may develop when you have lung inflammation due to infection, such as a viral infection, pneumonia, or tuberculosis.

It may also occur with:

• Certain cancers
• Chest trauma
• Blood clot (pulmonary embolus)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Sickle cell disease
• Rib fractures

Symptoms

The main symptom of pleurisy is pain in the chest. This pain often occurs when you take a deep breath in or out, or cough. Some people feel the pain in the shoulder.

Deep breathing, coughing, sneezing, and chest movement make the pain worse.

Pleurisy can cause fluid to collect inside the chest. As a result, the following symptoms can occur:

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Pain with deep breaths

Exams and Tests

When you have pleurisy, the normally smooth surfaces lining the lung (the pleura) become rough. They rub together with each breath. This results in a rough, grating sound called a friction rub. Your health care provider may hear this sound with the stethoscope.

Your provider may order the following tests:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• X-ray of the chest
• CT scan of the chest
• Ultrasound of the chest
• Removal of pleural fluid with a needle (thoracentesis) for analysis

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the pleurisy. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Surgery or insertion of a tube in the chest may be needed to drain infected fluid from the lungs. Viral infections normally run their course without medicines.

Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce pain.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Chances for recovery depends on the cause of the pleurisy and your general health condition.

Possible Complications

Health problems that may develop from pleurisy include:

• Breathing difficulty
• Fluid buildup between chest wall and lung
• Complications from the original illness

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of pleurisy. If you have breathing difficulty or your skin turns blue (cyanosis), seek medical care right away.

Prevention

Early treatment of bacterial respiratory infections can prevent pleurisy.

Related Information

References

Fenster BE, Lee-Chiong TL, Gebhart GF, Matthay RA. Chest pain. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 38.

McCool FD. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 86.

Review Date: 7/25/2025  

Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, MD, Director of Clinical Innovation and Education, Medical Critical Care, NYU Langone Medical Center, Tisch Hospital, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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