What is Chest Infection?
- A chest infection is a type of respiratory infection that impacts the lower part of your respiratory tract.
- Your lower respiratory tract includes your windpipe, bronchi, and lungs.
- The two most common types of chest infections are bronchitisand pneumonia. Chest infections can range anywhere from mild to severe.
Causes of chest infection:
- A chest infection can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The exact cause will depend on the type of infection.
- For example, bronchitis is often caused by a virus, whereas most cases of pneumonia are bacterial in origin.
- You can catch a chest infection by inhaling the respiratory droplets that are generated when someone with an infection coughs or sneezes. That’s because the respiratory droplets carry the infection.
- Additionally, coming into contact with a surface that’s contaminated with the virus or bacteria, and then touching your mouth or face can also spread the infection.
- You may be at an increased risk for a chest infection if you:
- Are elderly
- Are pregnant
- Are a baby or young child
- Smoke
- Have a chronic health condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, or diabetes
- Have a weakened immune system, either from a condition such HIV, or from being the recipient of an organ transplant.
Symptoms of chest infection:
The symptoms of a chest infection can include:
- Chesty cough (wet or phlegmy)
- wheezing
- Coughing up yellow or green mucus
- Feeling short of breath
- Discomfort in your chest
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and pains
- Feeling tired or fatigued
When to seek help from a healthcare provider?
- In some cases, a chest infection, such as acute bronchitis, will go away on its own and you won’t have to see a doctor.
- A pharmacist may be able to help you by recommending over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant medications to help loosen any mucus in your chest, which will make it easier to cough up.
You should always go to see a doctor for a chest infection if you:
- Are over 65 years old
- Have a child under 5 with symptoms of a chest infection
- Are pregnant
- Have a chronic health condition or a weakened immune system
- Cough up blood or bloody mucus
- Have symptoms such as a fever or headache that gets worse
- Have a cough that lasts longer than three weeks
- Have quick breathing, pain in your chest, or shortness of breath
- Feel dizzy, confused, or disoriented
Treatment for chest infection:
- If your chest infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t be effective. Instead, your treatment will focus on easing your symptoms until you begin to get better.
- If you have a bacterial infection, you’ll be treated with antibiotics. In a mild case, you can take these at home in tablet form.
- If you have a severe bacterial chest infection, you may need to be treated with IV antibiotics in a hospital.
- Always take the full course of antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better.
Home remedies for chest infection:
These home remedies may help ease the symptoms of your chest infection. Try these tips:
- Take OTC medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to lower your fever and help relieve any aches and pains.
- Use OTC decongestants or expectorants to help loosen mucus and make it easier to cough up.
- Be sure to get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of fluids. This keeps you hydrated and can loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up.
- Avoid lying flat when sleeping. This can cause mucus to settle in your chest. Use extra pillows to elevate your head and chest at night.
- Use a humidifier or inhale steam vapor to help relieve coughing.
- Have a warm drink of honey and lemon if your throat is sore from too much coughing.
- Avoid smoking, or being around secondhand smoke or other irritants.
- Stay away from cough suppression medicines. Coughing actually helps you to get over your infection through clearing mucus from your lungs.
How long does it take to recover from a chest infection?
- Most chest infection symptoms typically go away within 7 to 10 days, although a cough can last up to three weeks.
- See your doctor if your symptoms haven’t improved or have gotten worse in this time.
What are possible complications from a chest infection?
- Sometimes, a case of bronchitis can lead to pneumoniain some individuals.
- The possible complications from a chest infection like pneumonia can include:
- bacteria in your bloodstream (sepsis)
- accumulation of fluid within your lungs
- development of lung abscesses
How to prevent a chest infection?
You can help prevent chest infections by following the tips below:
- Make sure your hands are clean, particularly before eating or touching your face or mouth.
- Eat a healthy well-balanced diet. This can help boost your immune system and make you less susceptible to infection.
- Get vaccinated. Chest infections can develop following an infection such as influenza, for which there’s a seasonal vaccine. You may also want to consider receiving the pneumococcal vaccine, which offers protection from pneumonia.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Reduce the amount of alcohol that you consume.
- If you’re already ill, wash your hands frequently and be sure to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of any used tissues properly.
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