Pleurisy << PLUR uh see >> is a general term for inflammation of the pleura, a membrane that lines the inside of the chest and covers the lungs (see Pleura). The two surfaces of the pleura are normally moist and allow the lungs to move smoothly over the chest wall when a person breathes. When the pleura is inflamed, its surfaces become dry and rough and rub together. The inflammation stimulates pain receptors in the pleural lining of the inside of the chest and causes intense pain, made worse by coughing and deep breathing.
Pleuritic pain is often accompanied by pleural effusion, an accumulation of excessive amounts of liquid in the space between the two parts of the pleural membrane. In some cases, so much fluid collects in this cavity that the lungs become compressed and cannot inflate normally. Chills and fever, coughing, and difficulty in breathing may also accompany pleurisy.
Most cases of pleurisy occur as complications of pneumonia, tuberculosis, or other infectious diseases. Physicians must therefore treat the underlying disease in order to cure pleurisy. A doctor may prescribe drugs to relieve the pain of a person with pleurisy. In cases of pleural effusion, a physician may drain fluid from the patient’s chest.
