Intermittent lower right-sided chest pain that worsens with deep breaths may suggest which condition?

Intermittent lower right-sided chest pain that worsens with deep breaths is suggestive of pleuritis, also known as pleurisy. Pleuritis occurs when the pleura, the thin membranes that line the lungs and the chest cavity, become inflamed. The condition typically manifests as sharp, stabbing pain, particularly during respiratory movements such as taking deep breaths, coughs, or sneezes. This pain arises because the inflamed pleura rub against each other, leading to increased discomfort during any expansion of the lungs.

In the context of the given symptoms, pleuritis aligns well with the description of pain that intensifies upon deeper breathing. Other conditions, while they may cause chest pain, either have different pain characteristics or involve other mechanisms that don’t specifically cause pleuritic pain. For instance, pneumonia could result in chest pain but is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, cough, and possibly sputum production. Funnel chest, or pectus excavatum, typically presents with structural deformity and may cause discomfort but is not typically associated with pain that is exacerbated by breathing. Pericarditis can lead to sharp chest pain that is also worsened by deep breathing, but it usually involves pain located more