What condition is indicated by chest pain and a pericardial friction rub?

Chest pain accompanied by a pericardial friction rub strongly indicates pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the pericardium, the fibrous sac surrounding the heart. The pericardial friction rub is a key clinical finding and occurs due to the movement of the inflamed pericardial layers sliding against each other during the cardiac cycle. This characteristic sound is best heard with a stethoscope and is often described as a "scratchy" or "grating" noise.

Myocarditis, which involves inflammation of the heart muscle itself, can manifest with chest pain, but it does not typically present with a pericardial friction rub, making it less likely in this scenario. Pneumonia could cause chest pain and respiratory symptoms, but it would not produce the specific pericardial rub associated with pericarditis. Congestive heart failure primarily results in symptoms related to fluid overload and does not usually cause the combination of chest pain and a friction rub. Therefore, the presence of both symptoms is a strong indication of pericarditis.