Causes
Viral infection is the most common cause of pleurisy. However, many different conditions can cause pleurisy:
- Pneumothorax
- Bacterial infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis
- Autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (or drug-induced lupus erythematosus) and rheumatoid arthritis
- Lung cancer and lymphoma
- Other lung diseases like Cystic Fibrosis, sarcoidosis, asbestosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and mesothelioma
- Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the blood vessels that go into the lungs
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Familial Mediterranean fever, an inherited condition that often causes fever and swelling in the abdomen or lung
- Infection from a fungus or parasite
- Heart surgery, especially coronary artery bypass grafting
- High blood pressure
- Chest injuries
- Aortic dissection
- Can occur with no illness or infection
Some cases of pleurisy are idiopathic, meaning the cause cannot be determined.
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