These symptoms can be unpleasant, but they usually get better on their own in about 7 to 10 days. The cough and mucus can last up to 3 weeks.
Antibiotics aren't recommended for many chest infections, because they only work if the infection is caused by bacteria, rather than a virus. Your GP will usually only prescribe antibiotics if they think you have pneumonia, or you're at risk of complications such as fluid building up around the lungs (pleurisy).
Often viral cases of pneumonia begin as congestion and cough with or without fever in the first few days. When a doctor listens to the lungs and finds breathing sounds are not clear on either side of the chest, a viral cause over bacterial is even more highly suspected.
If you have a bacterial chest infection, you should start to feel better 24 to 48 hours after starting on antibiotics. You may have a cough for days or weeks. For other types of chest infections, the recovery is more gradual. You may feel weak for some time and need a longer period of bed rest.
A chest infection is an infection of the lungs or large airways. Some chest infections are mild and clear up on their own, but others can be severe and life threatening.
Coughing actually helps you clear the infection more quickly by getting rid of the phlegm from your lungs. Antibiotics aren't recommended for many chest infections. They only work if the infection is caused by bacteria, rather than a virus.
Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.
Stage four: Resolution
The final stage of pneumonia occurs between days eight to ten. This is the recovery phase of pneumonia, where the immune cells and enzymes fight the infection, allowing the alveoli to work better. The macrophages clear pus from the infected area.
If your symptoms get worse, you should look out for these warning signs. They include: If a fever, wheezing or headache becomes worse or severe. If you develop fast breathing, shortness of breath, or chest pains.
Bronchitis and pneumonia are two lung infections with similar symptoms. In some cases, bronchitis can turn into pneumonia. This occurs when an infection spreads from the airways to the air sacs in the lungs. It is also possible for a person with bronchitis to develop a separate pneumonia infection.
Visit your GP if your symptoms don't improve within three days of starting antibiotics. Symptoms may not improve if: the bacteria causing the infection is resistant to antibiotics – your GP may prescribe a different antibiotic, or they may prescribe a second antibiotic for you to take with the first one.
Some people may experience a mild illness that clears up on its own. Others may have severe symptoms and life threatening health complications. People with pneumonia typically develop a cough. However, the American Thoracic Society state that it is possible to have pneumonia without the symptom.
In most cases, chest infections from viral sources — such as the common cold — do not require prescription medical treatment. Doctors may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as ibuprofen or a cough and cold medication, to ease symptoms.
Green tea
Green tea like other caffeinated drinks helps boost energy levels. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the severity of your symptoms if you are suffering from a chest infection. It can also be consumed with honey to further increase its impact on lowering your symptoms.
"Once the infection is cleared with treatment, your body still has to deal with removing all of the fluid, damage and debris left behind in your lungs. This can take a few weeks, resulting in a lingering cough and reduced lung capacity," explains Dr. Lee.
One reason is that the detritus from an infection of the lung is hard to clear. Antibiotics kill the bacteria, but all the weaponry your body produced to fight the bacteria — mucus, essentially, or sputum, as it's called once you cough it up — is left behind.
Don't exercise if your signs and symptoms are "below the neck," such as chest congestion, a hacking cough or upset stomach. Don't exercise with people if you have COVID-19 or other contagious illnesses. Don't exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.
A chest infection can affect your windpipe, bronchi (the tubes taking air into the lungs), or the deeper parts of your lungs. The infection causes the affected part of the lung to become inflamed, which in turn can cause a buildup of fluid or mucus, sometimes making it difficult to breathe.