Pleuritis - Pleurisy

Pleurisy is inflammation of the thin lining around the lungs.

What is going on in the body?

A thin lining, known as the pleura, exists around the lungs. It allows for smooth, comfortable movement between the chest wall and the lungs as a person breathes. The pleura gets rough and stiff when it becomes inflamed. Because the lung expands and contracts while breathing, this inflammation makes breathing painful.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many causes of pleurisy. These may include pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung tumors, and lung cancer. A blood clot in the lung, called a pulmonary embolus, can result in pleurisy. Other causes include viral infections of the pleura and connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.