Chest infection
Chest infection
Chest infections are common, especially after a cold or flu in autumn and winter. Some are mild and clear up on their own, while others can be serious or even life-threatening.
Common Symptoms
Emergency Warning Signs
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Information on breathing problems in children
Contact your GP urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- you have a fever
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
Your GP should be able to diagnose you based on your symptoms. They’ll also listen to your chest using a stethoscope. This is a medical instrument used to listen to the heart and lungs.
Sometimes, further tests may be needed like:
- a chest X-ray
- breathing tests
- phlegm tests
- blood samples
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Information on breathing problems in children
Contact your GP urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- you have a fever
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
Your GP should be able to diagnose you based on your symptoms. They’ll also listen to your chest using a stethoscope. This is a medical instrument used to listen to the heart and lungs.
Sometimes, further tests may be needed like:
- a chest X-ray
- breathing tests
- phlegm tests
- blood samples
Causes
What causes chest infections?
A chest infection means the lungs or airways have become infected. The two main types are bronchitis and pneumonia. Bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, while pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria.
These infections most often spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, sending tiny droplets carrying the virus or bacteria into the air, which others then breathe in.
They can also spread if someone coughs or sneezes onto their hand, or onto an object or surface, and another person then touches that hand or surface before touching their own mouth or nose.
Some people face a higher risk of developing a serious chest infection, including:
- babies and very young children
- children with developmental problems
- people who are very overweight
- elderly people
- pregnant women
- people who smoke
- people with long-term health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- people with a weakened immune system, which may be due to a recent illness, an organ transplant, high-dose steroids, chemotherapy, or a health condition such as an undiagnosed HIV infection
Treatment
Most chest infections aren't serious, and they usually clear up on their own within a few days or a couple of weeks. You won't normally need to see a doctor unless your symptoms point to something more serious.
While you're recovering at home, a few simple steps can help ease your symptoms.
What helps
- Rest as much as you can
- Drink plenty of fluids. This helps prevent dehydration and loosens the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to cough up
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for headaches, fever, and general aches and pains
- Sip a warm drink of honey and lemon to soothe a sore throat caused by persistent coughing
- Prop your head up with extra pillows while sleeping, so breathing feels easier
- If you smoke, try to stop
It's best to avoid cough medicines, since there's little evidence that they actually work. Coughing is actually helpful, as it clears the infection faster by getting rid of phlegm from your lungs.
Antibiotics aren't recommended for most chest infections, since they only work when the infection is caused by bacteria. Your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics only if pneumonia is suspected, or if you're at risk of complications such as fluid building up around the lungs, known as pleurisy.
If there's a flu outbreak in your area and you're at risk of a serious infection, your doctor may also prescribe antiviral medication.
Prevention
If chest infections keep coming back, or you know you're at higher risk of one, a few simple steps can help:
- Ask your GP whether the yearly flu vaccine is right for you
- Ask your GP whether you should get the pneumococcal vaccine, since it helps prevent pneumonia
- If you smoke, try to quit
- Try to cut back on how much alcohol you drink