Pleurisy

Pleurisy is an inflammation of lung pleura.

The pleura are a set of membranes that separates your lungs from the inside of your chest. This membrane is filled with a fluid that allows your lungs to freely move within your chest cavity. Inflammation of the pleura can cause sharp chest pains.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Cough
• Chills
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Sharp chest pain with breathing. Pain can limit the movement on the side of the chest with pleurisy.
• Rapid shallow breaths
• Inability to take a deep breath due to chest pain

See also, Pleural cavity.

Sources

• http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069037/
• http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/pleurisy.asp