Etymed
pleurisy
Definition
Inflammation of the pleura, the membrane that lines the chest cavity and lungs
Clinical context
A 22-year-old male presents to the emergency department with sudden onset chest pain that worsens with inspiration and coughing. He denies trauma or recent illness but reports the pain has been progressively worse over the past 24 hours. On examination, he is breathing shallowly and has decreased breath sounds on the right side. A friction rub is audible on auscultation. Chest X-ray shows no obvious infiltrates but the patient's symptoms are consistent with pleuritic chest pain.
Mnemonic
Pleurisy causes pleuritic pain that worsens with inspiration - PLeuritic Pain INspiration