

A pleural friction rub may be auscultated, or there may decreased breath sounds in the presence of a pleural effusion.History of malignancy (metastasis to the pleura).Fever, malaise, night sweats (tuberculous pleurisy), viral symptoms (viral pleurisy).Recent heart attack, cardiac procedure or trauma (post-cardiac injury syndrome).Repeated episodes of fever associated with abdominal, chest or joint pain, family history of Mediterranean fever (familial mediterranean fever).Medication history (drug-induced pleuritis).Arthralgias, arthritis, prior connective tissue diagnoses (connective tissue disease-induced pleuritis).

Key aspects to elucidate on history include:

Blood testsīlood tests can help your healthcare provider determine if you have an infection that’s causing your pleural friction rub.Ī blood test may also help them diagnose an autoimmune disorder like rheumatoid arthritis, which might lead to pleurisy. The following tests may help locate the cause of your pleural friction rub.
PLEURISY LUNG SOUNDS SERIES
If your healthcare provider suspects that you may have a pleural friction rub, they’ll give you a series of tests to locate the inflamed part of your lung. Car collisions, assaults, and sports injuries are among potential causes of chest injuries. Injuries that affect your chest area, like broken ribs, can cause inflammation of your pleura and fluid buildup. Pleural effusion is also known as “water on the lungs.” It’s a buildup of fluid between the layers of your pleural tissue.Ĭommon causes of pleural effusion include: Kidney failure, infections, and AIDS are among other potential causes. Serositis is an inflammation of the linings of your lungs, heart, and abdominal organs.Īutoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis can lead to serositis. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics to help your body fight against the condition. Infections like bacterial pneumonia that target your lungs may lead to a pleural friction rub. Viral pleurisy often causes sharp chest pain when breathing. Viral infections that target the lungs are the most common cause of pleurisy. Conditions that lead to pleurisy may also cause a pleural friction rub. Pleurisy, otherwise known as pleuritis, is another name for inflammation of the pleura tissues around your lungs. A pleural friction rub is almost always a sign of pleurisy.
