Pleurisy

Pleurisy is an inflammation of parietal pleura of the lung.
Causes:
1. Infection -- Tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, infection with Coxsackie B virus (epidemic pleurodynia or Bornholm disease).
2. Infarction of lung.
3. Bronchogenic carcinoma.
4. Injury to chest wall or disease of ribs.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Systemic lupus erythematosus.
7. Uremia.
8. Asbestos pleural disease.
9. Familial Mediterranean fever.
All pleural disorders with inflammatory exudation may start as fibrinous dry pleurisy.
Symptoms:
1. Pain in the side, sharp, stabbing or tearing, worse on coughing, deep respiration and pressure from outside. When the diaphragmatic pleura is affected the pain may be referred to the tip of the shoulder, or to upper abdomen from pleurisy affecting the lower lobes.
2. Rapid shallow breathing with unproductive cough.
3. Chilly sensations at onset and moderately intermittent fever.