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.
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.
Although most chest infections are mild and improve on their own, some cases can be very serious, even life-threatening. A bout of infection of the large airways (bronchi) in the lungs (acute bronchitis) usually gets better on its own within 7-10 days without any medicines.
It will either be caused by: a virus (like viral bronchitis) – this usually clears up by itself after a few weeks and antibiotics will not help. bacteria (like pneumonia) – a GP may prescribe antibiotics (make sure you complete the whole course as advised by the GP, even if you start to feel better)
Chest infections are common, especially after a cold or flu during autumn and winter. Although most are mild and get better on their own, some can be serious or even life-threatening.
Chest infections can feel similar to the common cold and the flu but symptoms are often worse and can lead to considerable discomfort. Signs of a chest infection can include coughing up yellow or green mucus, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, a high fever, or rapid heartbeat.
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.
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.
The main symptoms of a chest infection can include: a persistent cough. coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood. breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing.
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.
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.
Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
Yes, while fever is common in pneumonia, it's possible to have pneumonia with a low fever or no fever. This is more likely if you: Are older than 65 or younger than 2 (especially newborns and infants).
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion's share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure and heart failure.
A bronchitis cough sounds like a rattle with a wheezing or whistling sound. As your condition progresses, you will first have a dry cough that can then progress towards coughing up white mucus.
You can expect the symptoms of your cold or upper respiratory infection to last 14 to 21 days. A dry hacking cough may continue up to three or four weeks. To help you recover: Drink more fluids.
It could be a sign of something more serious, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, so stay at home and call your doctor right away.
After 2 or 3 days, mucus may change to a white, yellow, or green color. This is normal and does not mean you need an antibiotic. Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days. Those symptoms should improve over time.