Pleurisy

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Respiratory system overview

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lungs that causes pain when you take a breath or cough.

Pleuritis; Pleuritic chest pain

Pleurisy may develop when you have lung inflammation due to infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. It may also occur with rheumatic diseases, chest trauma, certain cancers, and asbestos-related disease.

When you have pleurisy, the normally smooth lining of the lung (the pleura) become rough. The rub together with each breath, and may produce a rough, grating sound called a "friction rub." This sound can be heard with the stethoscope, or when you place an ear against the patient's chest.

Review Date: 02/13/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.