About pleurisy 2. Causes of pleurisy 3. Treating pleurisy. About pleurisy Pleurisy is inflammation of the sheet-like layers that cover the lungs the pleura. Seeing your GP Pleurisy can usually be diagnosed by studying your symptoms. These can include: blood tests to determine whether you have an infection or an autoimmune condition chest X-rays an ultrasound scan a computerised tomography CT scan a biopsy — a small sample of pleural or lung tissue is removed for further testing What causes pleurisy?
How is pleurisy treated? Treatment for pleurisy depends on the underlying cause. Causes of pleurisy Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. Infection An infection is the most common cause of pleurisy. Viruses known to cause pleurisy include: the influenza flu virus the Epstein-Barr virus — which causes glandular fever cytomegalovirus CMV — a common virus found in most people, which doesn't usually cause any noticeable symptoms parainfluenza — the virus that causes the childhood condition croup In some cases, pleurisy is caused by bacteria, such as: streptococcal bacteria — often associated with pneumonia , throat infections and some types of skin infections, such as impetigo and cellulitis staphylococcal bacteria — often associated with skin infections, food poisoning and, more seriously, blood poisoning sepsis Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA can cause pleurisy, especially in hospital patients.
Other causes Other possible causes of pleurisy include: injury — if the ribs are bruised or fractured, the pleura can become inflamed pulmonary embolism — a blood clot developing inside the lungs sickle cell anaemia — a blood disorder that usually affects people of African or Caribbean descent chemotherapy and radiotherapy HIV or AIDS lung cancer mesothelioma — a type of cancer caused by inhaling asbestos Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus , are other possible causes of pleurisy.
Treating pleurisy Treatment for pleurisy usually involves relieving pain and treating the underlying cause of the condition. If treated promptly, pleurisy often resolves without any lasting damage to the lungs. Treating pain The chest pain associated with pleurisy can be treated using a type of painkiller known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs.
Treating the underlying cause It may also be necessary to treat the underlying cause of your pleurisy. Pleural effusion In some cases, pleurisy causes a build-up of excess fluid around the lungs called pleural effusion. If a lot of fluid has to be drained away, you may need to stay in hospital for a few days.
What does heart attack pain feel like? By Body Part. Buoy Chat Icon. Symptom Checker. Verified By Experts Icon. Verified by experts 6 min read. No Ads. Pain when coughing can be caused by a number of illnesses, from mild to serious. Bina Choi, MD. Last updated October 12, Heart Icon. Speech Bubble Icon. Share Icon. Facebook Icon.
LinkedIn Icon. Pinterest Icon. Pocket Icon. Share Link Icon. Copied to clipboard. Table of Contents. Chest pain and cough questionnaire Use our free symptom checker to find out what's causing your pain. Lastly, cough and chest pain may be associated with more severe, life-threatening conditions such as Pulmonary embolism blood clot in lung Pneumothorax collapsed lung Heart failure Esophageal perforation tearing of the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
What causes dry cough and chest pain? Pro Tip. Pleural effusion Pleural effusion is unusual fluid in the space between your lungs and ribs.
Symptoms Difficulty breathing Chest pain Treatment: Your doctor will drain the fluid with a needle placed in your chest or with medications to help you urinate out the fluid. Pulmonary embolism A pulmonary embolism is a clot in a blood vessel in the lung. Symptoms Difficulty breathing Swelling in leg Rarely, some people will experience dizziness or pass out, as well as coughing up blood. Pneumothorax A collapsed lung, also called a pneumothorax , occurs when air enters the area between the lung and the chest wall, known as the pleural space.
Symptoms Sudden difficulty breathing Pain on one side of the chest Treatment: At the hospital, a tube is inserted into your chest wall to release the air.
Hemothorax A hemothorax is a pooling of blood between the lung and chest wall. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage A diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is when there is bleeding into the lungs. Symptoms: Fever General malaise Cough with blood Difficulty breathing Chest pain with deep breathing or cough Treatment: Varied, consult with your doctor. Lung nodules Also called a pulmonary nodule , a lung nodule is a small abnormal growth in the lung.
Symptoms: Varied Since nodules are often found during CT screenings, it can be hard to identify specific symptoms. Heart failure Heart failure is an umbrella term, including congestive heart failure and mitral valve disease. Symptoms Difficulty breathing, especially with activity Swelling in legs or abdomen Treatment: Medications that make you urinate to get rid of excess fluid. Pericarditis Pericarditis is a condition in which the membrane, or sac, around the heart is inflamed.
Symptoms Sharp chest pain Chest pain is worsened by deep breathing or coughing Chest pain improves with leaning forward Fever Treatment: Varied depending on the underlying cause. GERD acid reflux GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease , also known as acid reflux or heartburn, is when stomach acid flows upwards into the esophagus. It may seem strange, but often lying on the side of your chest that hurts helps reduce the pain.
If your pleurisy is caused by a viral infection, it'll usually get better on its own after a few days. If it's caused by a bacterial infection, you'll need antibiotics.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this may be either tablets or injections. If your symptoms are particularly severe or you're already in poor health, you may need to be admitted to hospital. Sometimes pleurisy causes a build-up of excess fluid around the lungs called pleural effusion. Pleural effusion can lead to shortness of breath that gets progressively worse. This is more likely if pleurisy is caused by pulmonary embolism or a bacterial infection. If pleural effusion does not clear up as your pleurisy is treated or you're very short of breath, the fluid may need to be drained by inserting a needle or tube through the chest wall.
Bacterial infections tend to worsen as the days go on. Countless environmental irritants can cause a dry cough as well as a tightness in the chest. They include:. Pneumothorax is the medical name for a collapsed lung. A traumatic injury from an accident or high-contact sport, lung disease, or even severe air pressure changes can cause it.
A collapsed lung often requires medical treatment. In some minor cases, a collapsed lung can heal on its own.
Early symptoms of lung cancer can include:. Many cases of lung cancer are due to smoking cigarettes. If you smoke, take advantage of the many free resources to help you quit.
Treatment for lung cancer varies depending on the stage of the disease. It may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. It can develop after a heart attack or other form of heart disease. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and review your medical history as well as ask you some questions, like:.
Your doctor may recommend using an inhaler depending on your needs. A fast-acting bronchodilator can quickly expand the airways. A longer-acting corticosteroid can relieve inflammation. The bronchodilator may be used on an as-needed basis, like to relieve an asthma attack.
The corticosteroid may be a daily treatment. Your doctor may recommend antacids or proton pump inhibitors to control stomach acid. Lifestyle adjustments can also help manage GERD in the long term. A dry cough from a lingering respiratory infection like the common cold may be managed with some home remedies.
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