Pleurisy
Pleurisy
Overview
Pleurisy is inflammation of the layers that cover the lungs (the pleura). It causes sharp chest pain (pleuritic pain) that gets worse when breathing or coughing.
It can affect people of all ages. People aged 65 years and over are most at risk because they’re more likely to get a chest infection.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
Emergency Warning Signs
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have pain when breathing in or coughing, particularly if you also have other symptoms, such as coughing up blood or leg swelling
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- have a sharp shoulder pain when breathing deeply
- have previously had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- take blood thinning medication
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have pain when breathing in or coughing, particularly if you also have other symptoms, such as coughing up blood or leg swelling
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- have difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- have a sharp shoulder pain when breathing deeply
- have previously had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- take blood thinning medication
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
Causes
What causes pleurisy?
Most cases happen because of a viral infection (such as flu) or a bacterial infection (such as pneumonia). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can also cause pleurisy, especially in people who are already in hospital. MRSA is a type of bacteria that has become resistant to a number of commonly used antibiotics.
In rarer cases, pleurisy can be caused by conditions such as a blood clot or lung cancer.
Diagnosis
Doctors can usually tell if you have pleurisy just by asking about your symptoms and listening to your chest with a stethoscope for a distinctive sound the condition produces.
To find out what's causing it and how serious it is, your doctor may also suggest further tests, such as:
- blood tests, to check for infection or an autoimmune condition
- a chest X-ray
- an ultrasound scan
- a CT (computerised tomography) scan
- a biopsy, where a small sample of tissue from the lung or its lining is taken and examined more closely
Treatment
Treatment for pleurisy depends on what's causing it.
If a viral infection is behind it, the condition often clears up on its own within a few days, without any specific treatment needed. When a bacterial infection is the cause, antibiotics are usually prescribed. Anyone who is frail or already dealing with poor health may need to be admitted to hospital, and recovery in these cases can take a bit longer.
To ease the chest pain, doctors often recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.
Sometimes excess fluid collects between the layers of the pleura, a condition known as pleural effusion. If this happens, the fluid may need to be drained to prevent breathing difficulties.