Pleurisy

Symptoms of pleurisy

The main symptom of pleurisy is sharp chest pain when you breathe in.

The pain may be worse when you cough, sneeze or move around. It may also spread to your shoulders and back.

When and where to get medical help

You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have pleurisy.

Pleurisy usually gets better by itself, but a healthcare professional will be able to check if your symptoms are being caused by a serious condition, such as pneumonia.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have sharp chest pain that comes and goes, or only happens when breathing or coughing
you have sharp chest pain that has not got better after a few days
you've coughed up a few small spots, flecks or streaks of blood, or noticed blood in your phlegm or on a handkerchief
you're feeling short of breath regularly

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you have sudden chest pain that lasts for 15 minutes or more
you have sudden chest pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw
you have difficulty breathing
you're coughing up more than just a few spots or streaks of blood
you're coughing up blood and finding it hard to breathe, have a very fast heartbeat, or have pain in your chest or upper back

These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as a heart attack or a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

What happens at your appointment

If you have symptoms of pleurisy, a GP will examine you and listen to your chest.

The GP may refer you to a specialist if they're not sure what's causing your symptoms.

You may need to have tests, such as:

blood tests
a chest X-ray
an ultrasound scan
a CT scan

Treatment for pleurisy

Pleurisy usually gets better on its own in a few days without treatment from a GP.

If your symptoms are being caused by a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, you may need antibiotics.

It's important that you finish your full course of antibiotics. Do not stop taking them before the end of your recommended course, even if you're feeling better.

You can ease the chest pain by:

taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
not smoking or vaping as this can irritate your lungs and make the pain worse

You may need to have treatment in hospital if your symptoms are severe or being caused by something more serious, such as a pulmonary embolism or tuberculosis.

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