Pleurisy

Pleurisy, also called pleuritis is swelling of the thin layers of tissue covering the lungs and chest wall. One layer wraps around the outside of the lungs and the other layer lines the inner chest wall. The two layers of the pleural membrane rub against each other like two pieces of sandpaper, producing pain when you inhale and exhale. A number of conditions can cause pleurisy.

The causes of pleurisy include:

• Lung cancer near the pleural surface
• A fungal infection
• A bacterial infection such as pneumonia
• A viral infection such as flu
• Certain medications
• Rheumatoid disease

The symptoms of pleurisy might include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain that worsens when you breathe, cough or sneeze
• A cough or fever - only in some cases
• The pain caused by pleurisy might also affect the shoulder and back

Sometimes, the inflammation of the pleura causes fluid to build up in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion). At that time, you may have less pain because the fluid prevents the two layers of the pleura from rubbing together. But, if there is a large amount of fluid, it may prevent the lung from expanding when you breathe in. This can make it hard to breathe.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained, intense chest pain while breathing!