The principle symptom is pain over the chest wall at the site of the inflammation. The pain is increased by deep breathing, coughing , and chest movement. Fluid can accumulate at the site of pleural inflammation. A localized collection of fluid separates the lung pleura from the chest wall pleura causing the chest pain to disappear even though the illness may be worsening. No treatments are available for viral respiratory infections with the exception of amantadine for influenza .
Treatment is determined by the precipitating illness.
Bacterial infections are treated with appropriate antibiotics . Tuberculosis requires special treatment. Viral infections normally run their course without medications. Pleural fluid is often removed by thoracentesis , and evaluated for signs of infection. Recovery depends on the nature of the illness.