Symptoms of PLEURISY OR PLEURITIS

If the pleural inflammation occurs rapidly, such as in an infection or pulmonary embolism, the symptoms develop rapidly. Sharp chest pain occurs. The pain is accentuated, or increased, with breathing. You may feel short of breath or have difficulties breathing. The pain may vary from a vague discomfort to severe chest pain. The pain is usually located over the area where the pleura is inflamed. The pain may radiate into adjacent areas. Cough and fever may develop. The respiratory rate may be rapid and the depth of breathing may be reduced to shallow breaths. The development of a pleural effusion may actually decrease the pain, by allowing the inflamed pleural surfaces to glide by one another easier. The collection of fluid may make shortness of breath more pronounced. Chronic diseases that produce pleurisy may produce similar symptoms that develop slower over a longer period of time.