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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Partly. Video assessment of the pain and its cause; a first episode often needs an examination or chest X-ray.
- Main symptom: a sharp, stabbing chest pain when you breathe in, cough or sneeze, sometimes spreading to the shoulder or back.
- Cause: usually a virus such as flu; less often pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung, a rib injury or an autoimmune condition.
- How long: viral pleurisy usually gets better within 2 to 7 days, helped by anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen; pain lasting more than a week needs a review.
- Emergency: call 112 for sudden chest pain that does not go away, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood or fainting.
Do not book a video appointment if your chest pain came on suddenly and has not eased, spreads to your arm, neck, jaw or back, or comes with difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, sweating, nausea or fainting. These can signal a heart attack, a blood clot in the lung or a collapsed lung: call 112.
Can an online doctor treat pleurisy?
Partly. A doctor can assess the pattern of your pain by video, look for the warning signs of a blood clot, a collapsed lung, pneumonia or a heart problem, and treat mild viral pleurisy with anti-inflammatory painkillers. A first episode with no clear cause often needs an examination, a chest X-ray or blood tests, which the doctor arranges in person. Sudden chest pain with breathlessness needs emergency care.
How an online consultation helps with pleurisy
- The serious causes checked first: A blood clot in the lung, a collapsed lung, pneumonia and heart problems can all cause pain on breathing in. The doctor goes through the signs of each before anything else.
- A clear decision on tests: If you need a chest X-ray, blood tests or an urgent hospital assessment, the doctor tells you which, and how quickly.
- Pain relief that suits you: Anti-inflammatory painkillers are the main treatment for viral pleurisy. The doctor checks they are safe for you and suggests alternatives if not.
- Follow-up if it does not settle: Pleurisy usually improves within days. If yours does not, the doctor looks at the cause again.
What the doctor checks in an online pleurisy consultation
The consultation follows a fixed order, and the emergency signs come first. The doctor asks about:
- Emergency signs: sudden or crushing chest pain, pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or fainting.
- Blood clot risk: a swollen, painful calf, recent surgery or a hospital stay, a long journey, pregnancy or a recent birth, the combined pill or HRT, cancer, or a previous clot.
- The pain itself: where it is, whether it is sharp on breathing in, what makes it better or worse, and whether pressing on the chest brings it on.
- Signs of infection: a cough, phlegm, fever, or a recent cold or flu.
- Other causes: a recent injury to the ribs, and conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Before the call, note when the pain started and what you were doing, take your temperature, and measure your pulse and oxygen level if you have a pulse oximeter.
Pleurisy symptoms
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the two thin layers of tissue that line the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. Normally they glide smoothly over each other; when they are inflamed, they rub with every breath. The symptoms are:
- a sharp, stabbing chest pain when you breathe in, cough, sneeze or move
- pain that may spread to the shoulder or back
- shallow breathing, because a deep breath hurts
- breathlessness
- a dry cough
- a fever, if an infection is the cause
The pain often eases when you hold your breath or press on the painful side. Sometimes fluid collects between the two layers, called a pleural effusion, which can ease the pain but make you more breathless.
What causes pleurisy?
Most pleurisy is caused by a viral infection, such as flu, and settles on its own. The other causes are less common but matter more:
- **Pneumonia:** a bacterial lung infection that needs antibiotics.
- A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism): this needs emergency treatment.
- A rib injury: a bruised or broken rib can inflame the pleura.
- Autoimmune conditions: such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Rarer causes: tuberculosis and, rarely, lung cancer.
Anyone can get pleurisy, but it is more likely after a recent chest or respiratory infection, over the age of 65, and with an autoimmune condition. There is no evidence that COVID-19 directly causes pleurisy. Treating chest infections promptly lowers the risk, and a vaccine against pneumococcus, a common cause of pneumonia, is recommended for people over 65 and for people with long-term conditions or a weakened immune system.
Is it pleurisy or something else?
Several conditions cause chest pain that is worse when you breathe in. Some can be managed at home; others are emergencies.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical pattern | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Viral pleurisy | Sharp pain on breathing in, often after a cold or flu, with mild or no breathlessness | Anti-inflammatory painkillers; see a doctor if it is not better in a few days |
| Pneumonia | Pain on breathing in with fever, cough and phlegm, feeling very unwell | Prompt assessment; antibiotics |
| Blood clot in the lung | Sudden breathlessness and pain on breathing in, sometimes coughing up blood or a swollen calf | Emergency: call 112 |
| Collapsed lung (pneumothorax) | Sudden sharp pain on one side with breathlessness, more common in tall young adults, smokers and people with lung disease | Emergency: call 112 |
| Pericarditis | Sharp central pain, worse lying down or breathing in, better leaning forward | Urgent in-person assessment |
| Chest wall strain | Pain when you press on the chest, twist or lift, after exercise or a bout of coughing | Painkillers and rest; usually managed online |
| Heart attack | Crushing or tight central pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw or back, with sweating or nausea | Emergency: call 112 |
If you are unsure which pattern fits, treat sudden chest pain as an emergency. Read more about chest pain and rib cage pain.
How is pleurisy diagnosed?
In person, a doctor listens to your chest with a stethoscope, where inflamed pleura can make a rubbing or grating sound. Blood tests look for infection or an autoimmune condition, and a heart tracing (ECG) helps rule out heart problems. A chest X-ray, an ultrasound scan or a CT scan shows pneumonia, fluid or a blood clot. If fluid has collected, a sample may be taken with a needle to find the cause.
How long does pleurisy last, and is it serious?
Viral pleurisy usually gets better within a few days, and anti-inflammatory painkillers help it settle. When pneumonia is the cause, the pain eases as the infection is treated. Treated promptly, pleurisy rarely leaves lasting damage to the lungs.
See a doctor again if the pain is not better after a few days, keeps coming back, or you become breathless, because fluid may be collecting around the lung or there may be another cause. Pleurisy itself is not contagious, but the virus or bacteria behind it can be, so wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes.
Complications of pleurisy
Viral pleurisy is rarely serious. How serious pleurisy is depends mainly on its cause, and a few complications need treatment in person:
- Fluid around the lung (pleural effusion): it can ease the pain but press on the lung and make you breathless. It may need draining if it does not clear as the pleurisy is treated.
- A partly collapsed lung (atelectasis): pressure from fluid can stop part of the lung filling with air.
- Pus around the lung (empyema): the fluid becomes infected, often with a fever, and needs antibiotics and draining.
Which pleurisy treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on the cause, so the first step is always to rule out the emergencies. This is the decision framework the doctors use, aligned with NHS and HSE guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp pain on breathing in after a cold or flu, breathing comfortably, low clot risk | Anti-inflammatory painkillers and rest | Usually yes | If it is not better in a few days, or you become breathless |
| Pain on breathing in with fever, cough and phlegm | Assessment for pneumonia; antibiotics if bacterial | Partly; an examination may be needed | If you are breathless or very unwell |
| A first episode with no clear cause, or pleurisy that keeps returning | Chest X-ray and blood tests to find the cause | For the first assessment | For the tests |
| Pain after a fall or a blow to the ribs | Pain relief, and a check for a broken rib | Usually yes | If you are breathless, coughing blood or the pain is severe |
| Pain on breathing in with a swollen calf, recent surgery or a long journey | Urgent hospital assessment for a blood clot | No | Now |
| Sudden chest pain with breathlessness, blood or fainting | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
Not sure what is causing your chest pain? A doctor can tell you how urgently you need to be seen.
See available times →Treatment options for pleurisy
What you can do yourself
- Take an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen, at the dose on the pack, which eases both the pain and the inflammation. Ibuprofen does not suit everyone, including people with a stomach ulcer, kidney problems or heart failure, or anyone who is pregnant; paracetamol is the alternative.
- Rest, and find a comfortable position. Lying on the side of your chest that hurts can ease the pain, including at night.
- Breathe as deeply as the pain allows, and cough when you need to, to keep your lungs clear.
- Stop smoking or vaping, which irritate the lungs.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If ibuprofen is not enough or does not suit you, the doctor may prescribe a different anti-inflammatory painkiller or other pain relief. If pneumonia is the cause, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Strong painkillers such as codeine and other opioids are not prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Antibiotics do not help pleurisy caused by a virus. Painkillers should not be used to push through pain that keeps getting worse: worsening pain, or new breathlessness, needs to be seen.
Special situations
Pleurisy in pregnancy and after giving birth
Chest pain on breathing in during pregnancy, or in the 6 weeks after giving birth, needs a prompt in-person assessment, because the risk of blood clots is higher. Ibuprofen is usually avoided in pregnancy, and paracetamol is the usual choice.
After surgery, a hospital stay or a long journey
Pain on breathing in within weeks of surgery, a hospital stay or a journey of more than 4 hours, especially with a swollen calf, needs urgent hospital assessment for a blood clot.
Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and pleurisy that keeps coming back
If you have an autoimmune condition, pleurisy can be a sign of a flare. Tell the doctor about your diagnosis and treatment, and contact your specialist team. Pleurisy that keeps coming back needs tests to find the cause.
Pleurisy while travelling
Ibuprofen and paracetamol are sold in pharmacies across Europe. Avoid flying while you are breathless, and on long journeys walk about regularly and drink water to lower the risk of a blood clot.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When pleurisy is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: sharp pain on breathing in after a cold or flu without warning signs, pain relief plans, deciding which tests you need and how quickly, chest wall strain, and follow-up when pleurisy is slow to settle.
In-person care: a suspected blood clot, collapsed lung, heart problem or pneumonia, breathlessness, a first episode with no clear cause, fluid around the lung, and pleurisy that keeps coming back.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- sudden chest pain that does not go away, or that spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw
- chest pain with sweating, feeling sick, light-headedness or fainting
- difficulty breathing, or a heart that is beating very fast
- coughing up more than a few streaks of blood
- pain on breathing in with a swollen, painful calf, or soon after surgery or a long journey
Get medical advice the same day for:
- sharp chest pain on breathing in that has not got better after a few days
- coughing up a few spots or streaks of blood
- breathlessness that keeps coming back
- chest pain with a fever and a cough
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your chest pain: say when it started, what makes it worse, and whether you have had a recent infection, injury, operation or long journey.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s pleurisy? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Chest pain can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about pleurisy
What is pleurisy?
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the two thin layers of tissue that line the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. When they are inflamed, they rub together with each breath, causing a sharp chest pain when you breathe in. It is usually caused by a virus and gets better within a few days.
What does pleurisy feel like?
Pleurisy causes a sharp, stabbing chest pain when you breathe in, cough, sneeze or move, often on one side and sometimes spreading to the shoulder or back. Many people take shallow breaths to avoid the pain. Holding your breath or pressing on the painful side can ease it.
What causes pleurisy?
Most pleurisy is caused by a viral infection such as flu. Less common causes include pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung, a rib injury and autoimmune conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Rarely, tuberculosis or lung cancer is the cause.
How long does pleurisy last?
Viral pleurisy usually gets better within a few days, helped by anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. If the pain has not improved after a few days, keeps coming back or comes with breathlessness, see a doctor.
Is pleurisy contagious?
Pleurisy itself is not contagious, because it is inflammation rather than an infection. The virus or bacteria that caused it can spread, so cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands while you are unwell.
Is pleurisy serious?
Viral pleurisy is rarely serious and usually settles within a few days. How serious pleurisy is depends on its cause: pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung or fluid that becomes infected need treatment, sometimes in hospital. Treated quickly, pleurisy often heals without lasting damage to the lungs.
How is pleurisy treated?
Viral pleurisy is treated with rest and an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen, or paracetamol if ibuprofen does not suit you. Pleurisy caused by pneumonia needs antibiotics, and other causes, such as a blood clot, need hospital treatment.
What can I do at home for pleurisy?
Take ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory painkiller regularly, with food, as the doctor advises, because it eases the pain better than paracetamol alone; rest, but keep taking deep breaths and coughing when you need to, holding a pillow against the chest, so the base of the lung stays expanded; lie on the painful side if that is more comfortable; drink plenty of fluids; and do not smoke. Pleurisy pain that gets worse rather than better after 2 to 3 days needs a review.
How can I tell if my chest pain is pleurisy or something serious?
Pleurisy pain is sharp and comes with breathing, often after a cold or flu. Sudden breathlessness, coughing up blood, a swollen calf, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, sweating or fainting point to something more serious and need emergency care. If you are unsure, call 112.
Can pleurisy go away on its own?
Yes, viral pleurisy usually settles on its own within a few days. Painkillers make breathing more comfortable while it heals. Pleurisy caused by pneumonia or another condition needs that cause treated.
Can pleurisy be prevented?
Only partly, because most pleurisy follows a viral infection that cannot always be avoided; the yearly flu vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine if you are over 65 or have a long-term condition, handwashing and not smoking lower the risk of the infections behind it, and people who have had a blood clot are protected by keeping active on long journeys and taking any prescribed blood thinner. Treating a chest infection early also prevents some pleurisy.
What should you not do with pleurisy?
With pleurisy, do not smoke or vape, which irritate the lungs and can make the pain worse. Do not stop antibiotics early if you were prescribed them, and do not use painkillers to push through pain that keeps getting worse. Avoid flying while you are breathless, and get help at once for new breathlessness, coughing up blood or pain that suddenly gets worse.
Can an online doctor treat pleurisy?
Partly. An online doctor can assess your pain, check for the signs of a blood clot, a collapsed lung or pneumonia, and treat mild viral pleurisy. A first episode with no clear cause often needs an examination, a chest X-ray or blood tests in person.
When is chest pain an emergency?
Whatever the suspected cause, pleurisy included, call 112 or go to an emergency department for sudden chest pain that does not go away, pain spreading to your arms, back, neck or jaw, chest pain with sweating, nausea or fainting, difficulty breathing, or coughing up more than a few streaks of blood.
- Pleurisy, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 16 September 2026.
- Pleurisy, HSE, Health Service Executive (Ireland), reviewed 26 April 2026.
- Pulmonary embolism, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 25 May 2023.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), NHS, National Health Service (UK), 2026.
- Pericarditis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 July 2023.
- Chest pain, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 August 2023.
- Pleurisy, Cleveland Clinic, updated 26 May 2026.
- Pleurisy, Better Health Channel, Department of Health, Victoria (Australia), reviewed 22 August 2025.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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