Pleurisy:  An inflammation of the visceral and parietal pleurae that line the inside of the thoracic cage and envelop the lungs, pleurisy usually begins suddenly.

Cause:  Pleurisy develops as a complication of pneumonia, tuberculosis, viruses, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, uremia, cancer, pulmonary infarction, or chest trauma.

Symptoms:

Sharp, stabbing pain that increases with respiration may be so severe that it limits movement on the affected side during breathing

Dyspnea

Auscultation reveals a characteristic pleural friction rub - a coarse, creaky sound heard during late inspiration and early expiration, directly over the area of pleural inflammation

Treatment:

Treatment usually symptomatic

Anti inflammatory agents

Analgesics

Bed rest

Severe pain may require intercostal nerve block.

Pleurisy with pleural effusion calls for therapeutic and diagnostic thoracentesis