Explanation of Abdominal Pain with Pneumonia

Patients with pneumonia may develop pleurisy, a medical condition that causes sharp abdominal pain due to inflamed tissue in the lungs and the chest. Pleurisy may cause fluid in the lungs that can result in a bacterial or viral infection.

Disease Connection

• According to the Mayo Clinic, pleurisy is a common symptom of pneumonia that causes pain in the chest that fluctuates with a patient’s breathing.

Pleurisy Symptoms

• Pleurisy can cause bluish skin color, coughing and breathing difficulties along with chest pain, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Testing

• Doctors may use a stethoscope to listen for a rough, grating sound while a patient breathes. Tests such as an ultrasound of the chest or a chest x-ray may be used with a patient’s symptoms to diagnose pleurisy.

Treatment

• A doctor may perform a thoracentesis procedure to remove fluid from a patient’s lungs and look for signs of an infection. Bacterial infections may be treated with antibiotics.

Complications

• Patients with pleurisy may develop a collapsed lung or increased breathing difficulties.