Causes include: (1,2)
- pneumonia especially pneumococcal pneumonia
- pulmonary infarction
- malignancy e.g. bronchogenic carcinoma
- lung abscess
- bronchiectasis
- asbestos pleural disease, including mesothelioma
- trauma
Viruses are among the most common causes and these include:
- Coxsackieviruses (Bornholm disease)
- Adenovirus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Influenza virus
- Cytomegalovirus
- Herpes zoster
- Mumps
- Parainfluenza virus
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Viral pneumonia
Rare causes include:
- tuberculosis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- uraemia
- Familial Mediterranean fever
Overall, 30% to 40% of cases are classified as idiopathic (3)
References
- Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR. Pleuritic Chest Pain: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Sep 01;96(5):306-312.
- Roberts ME, Rahman NM, Maskell NA, et al. British Thoracic Society guideline for pleural disease. Thorax. 2023 Jul;78(suppl 3):s1-42.
- Castaniere I, Tonelli R, Fantini R, Marchioni A, Garofalo M, Clini EM, Cerri S. The encaged lung: rapidly progressive idiopathic pleurisy. Oxf Med Case Reports. 2018 Aug;2018(8):omy041.