Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lungs that causes pain when you take a breath or cough.

Pleurisy may develop when you have lung inflammation due to infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. It may also occur with rheumatic diseases, chest trauma, certain cancers, and asbestos-related disease.

When you have pleurisy, the normally smooth lining of the lung (the pleura) become rough. The rub together with each breath, and may produce a rough, grating sound called a "friction rub." This sound can be heard with the stethoscope, or when you place an ear against the patient's chest.

The main symptom of pleurisy is pain in the chest. Sometimes the pain may be felt in the shoulder.

Deep breathing, coughing, and chest movement makes the pain worse.

Pleurisy causes fluid to collect inside the lung area. This makes breathing difficult and may cause the following symptoms:

• Coughing 
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
• Cyanosis

The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs for abnormal sounds.

• Friction rub is a rough scratchy sound
• Rales may be occur with pneumonia
• Rhonchi  may occur with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Decreased breath sounds may indicate fluid around the lung

• CBC (may help determine if the infection is caused by a bacteria or virus)
• X-ray of the chest
• Ultrasound of the chest
• Thoracentesis (a collection of fluid from the chest cavity)