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Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs, and it often results from underlying conditions that affect the respiratory system. Individuals who experience viral infections and pneumonia are particularly susceptible to developing pleurisy because these conditions can lead to inflammation of the lung tissue and pleura.
Viral infections, such as influenza, can directly cause pleuritis as the immune response to the virus results in inflammation. Similarly, pneumonia can lead to pleural effusion or an infection that reaches the pleura, prompting pleurisy. The direct impact these conditions have on the respiratory system aligns with the known causes of pleural inflammation.
In contrast, asthma and bronchitis may cause respiratory symptoms but do not typically lead to pleurisy in the same manner, as they primarily involve airway inflammation rather than pleural inflammation. Conditions like diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases that impact various bodily systems but are not primary causes of pleurisy. Likewise, heart disease and stroke, while severe conditions, do not directly involve the pleural membranes and are less likely to lead to pleurisy. Hence, the connection between pleurisy and viral infections or pneumonia reflects the inflammation and complications that arise specifically in the respiratory tract, making these conditions the