Key Points

• Pleurisy is inflammation (swelling) of the pleura. The pleura is a large, thin sheet of tissue (membrane) that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity.
• Pleurisy occurs when the two layers of the pleura become red and inflamed. Then they rub against each other every time your lungs expand to breathe air in.
• Other disorders of the pleura include pleural effusion (buildup of fluid in the pleural space), pneumothorax (buildup of air or gas in the pleural space), and hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural space).
• Many different conditions can cause pleurisy. Viral infection is the most common cause. The most common cause of pleural effusion is congestive heart failure. Lung diseases, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and acute lung injury, cause pneumothorax. Injury to the chest is the most common cause of hemothorax.
• The main symptom of pleurisy is a sharp or stabbing pain in your chest that gets worse when you breathe in deeply or cough or sneeze. Pleural effusion often has no symptoms. Pneumothorax and hemothorax have similar symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate.
• Your doctor will find out if you have pleurisy or another pleural disorder by taking a detailed medical history and doing a physical exam and several tests.
• Treatment for pleurisy is designed to remove the fluid, air, or blood from the pleural space, relieve symptoms, and treat the underlying condition.
• If the condition that caused pleurisy isn't too serious and is diagnosed and treated early, you can expect a full recovery.