Pleurodynia

Pleurodynia is sudden, severe pain in the chest and abdomen that is caused by complications from a viral infection. Pleurodynia may also be called epidemic pleurodynia or Bornholm disease.

In most cases, pleurodynia goes away on its own in 2–5 days.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by a virus called coxsackievirus B. In rare cases, other viruses may cause pleurodynia. These include coxsackievirus A or echoviruses.

Coxsackievirus B can be spread from person to person (it is contagious). It can be spread through:

• Coughing.
• Sneezing.
• Close physical contact with an infected person.
• Contact with the stool of an infected person.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in:

• Children.
• Places where there are poor public health conditions (sanitation).
• Places where there is overcrowding.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main symptom of this condition is severe chest pain that makes breathing painful. Pain is usually on one side of the body, along the lower ribs. Pain starts suddenly and may last from a few seconds to 1 minute. You might feel pain again a few minutes or hours later.

These brief periods of pain usually come and go for 2–5 days. In some cases, pain may continue to come and go for as long as a month.

Other symptoms of pleurodynia may include:

• Abdominal pain.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Feeling unusually tired (fatigue).
• Pain when pressing on the chest or belly.
• Dry cough.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Rash.
• Testicle pain (men).

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on your medical history and a physical exam. You may have tests, including:

• A throat swab.
• Stool tests. You may need to give a stool sample to your health care provider.
• Blood tests.
• Chest X-rays.

How is this treated?

There is no specific treatment for this condition. However, symptoms go away within days or weeks. In the meantime, your health care provider may recommend NSAIDs to help relieve pain and fever.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If your child has pleurodynia, do not give your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.

General instructions

• Rest for as long as told by your health care provider.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Do not use any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

How is this prevented?

• Wash your hands often to prevent the virus from spreading. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Make sure that other people in your household also wash their hands often.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms last longer than 5 days.
• You have pain that does not get better with medicine.

Get help right away if:

• You have severe chest pain that is getting worse.
• You have difficulty breathing.
• You have a sudden, severe headache and a stiff neck.