Which description best fits pericarditis pain?

Which description best fits pericarditis pain?

• A. Substernal, sharp constant pain with pericardial friction rub and fever
• B. Dull abdominal pain
• C. Sharp tearing chest pain radiating to back
• D. Pain relieved by leaning forward, with no friction rub

Answer: (A)

Pericarditis pain is typically sharp and pleuritic, felt substernally, and often worsens when lying flat while improving when sitting up and leaning forward. A pericardial friction rub is a classic finding indicating pericardial inflammation, and fever can accompany inflammatory or infectious pericarditis. So describing substernal, sharp pain with a pericardial friction rub and fever fits the expected pattern best. Dull abdominal pain doesn’t match chest pathology. Sharp tearing chest pain radiating to the back suggests aortic dissection. Pain relief by leaning forward without a friction rub is possible, but the presence of a friction rub plus fever makes the pericarditis picture most likely.

Pericarditis pain is typically sharp and pleuritic, felt substernally, and often worsens when lying flat while improving when sitting up and leaning forward. A pericardial friction rub is a classic finding indicating pericardial inflammation, and fever can accompany inflammatory or infectious pericarditis. So describing substernal, sharp pain with a pericardial friction rub and fever fits the expected pattern best.

Dull abdominal pain doesn’t match chest pathology. Sharp tearing chest pain radiating to the back suggests aortic dissection. Pain relief by leaning forward without a friction rub is possible, but the presence of a friction rub plus fever makes the pericarditis picture most likely.