What is Pleurisy?

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, resulting in pain from deep breathing and shortness of breath. There is a typical frictional rub heard through a stethoscope. Pleurisy is often caused by pneumonia in the adjacent lung and is always associated with disease in the lung, diaphragm, chest wall or abdomen, e.g. tuberculosis, abscesses, bronchial carcinoma.