What happens if you ignore a chest infection?

If your pneumonia isn't treated, the pleura can get swollen, creating a sharp pain when you breathe in. If you don't treat the swelling, the area between the pleura may fill with fluid, which is called a pleural effusion. If the fluid gets infected, it leads to a problem called empyema.

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How long can a chest infection last untreated?

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.

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What happens if a chest infection goes untreated?

Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially for certain at-risk people. You should call your doctor if you have a cough that won't go away, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever. You should also call your doctor if you suddenly begin to feel worse after having a cold or the flu.

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Will my chest infection go on its own?

Many chest infections aren't serious and get better within a few days or weeks. You won't usually need to see your GP, unless your symptoms suggest you have a more serious infection. While you recover at home, there are things you can do to improve your symptoms.

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How do I know if my chest infection is viral or bacterial?

Small amounts of white mucus may be coughed up if the bronchitis is viral. If the color of the mucus changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also set in. The cough is usually the last symptom to clear up and may last for weeks.

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Lung Infection Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

16 related questions found

How do you know when a chest infection turns into pneumonia?

If bronchitis becomes pneumonia, a person's symptoms usually worsen. They will have a cough with mucus and a fever. If a doctor cannot diagnose pneumonia based on the person's symptoms, they may suggest a chest X-ray or blood test.

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What are the early warning signs of pneumonia?

What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?
  • Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus.
  • Fever, sweating and shaking chills.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Rapid, shallow breathing.
  • Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
  • Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue.

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What are the stages of a chest infection?

Pneumonia has four distinct stages of infection: Congestion, red hepatization, gray hepatization, and resolution. Keep in mind that everyone who gets pneumonia will have a different experience. You may not follow the same timeline or have the same symptoms in each stage.

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How long is too long for a chest infection?

Treatments for bronchitis

Bronchitis usually clears up without treatment in around 3 weeks. See a GP if your symptoms last longer than 3 weeks. You may need antibiotics if your bronchitis is caused by a bacterial infection.

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What are 3 symptoms of bronchitis?

Some symptoms of acute bronchitis are:
  • Chest discomfort.
  • Cough that produces mucus -- the mucus may be clear or yellow-green.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever -- usually low-grade.
  • Shortness of breath that gets worse with activity.
  • Wheezing, in people with asthma.

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When should a chest infection clear up?

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.

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When should I go back to the doctor for a chest infection?

See a doctor if you have any of the following: Temperature of 100.4 °F or higher. Cough with bloody mucus. Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.

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What are red flags for pneumonia?

Two red-flag signs of pneumonia in older adults are confusion and/or delirium, as well as a lower than normal body temperature. Other signs, which can sometimes be confused with cold and flu, include: Chest pain during breathing or coughing. Feeling tired or weak.

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What does a pneumonia cough sound like?

What does a pneumonia cough sound like? This will depend on the type of pneumonia you have and be either a dry or chesty cough. Bacterial pneumonia is more serious and often results in a gurgling sound when breathing and mucus or phlegm when coughing.

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How do doctors tell if you have pneumonia?

A chest X-ray is often used to diagnose pneumonia. Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) see whether your immune system is fighting an infection. Pulse oximetry measures how much oxygen is in your blood.

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How can doctor tell difference between chest infection and pneumonia?

Because the symptoms of pneumonia and bronchitis overlap – with cough, fever, and sometimes difficulty breathing – they can be difficult to tell apart. Fortunately, a chest X-ray can show a visible difference between the illnesses, helping your health care provider diagnose your condition and treat it appropriately.

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Does coughing up phlegm mean your getting better?

Yes. While the presence of mucus may indicate an underlying issue, coughing up phlegm is a good thing because it helps clear irritants, allergens and infections out of your system.

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What does the beginning of a chest infection feel like?

Signs and symptoms of a chest infection

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.

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How do I know if I need antibiotics?

As discussed, if your symptoms are caused by a virus (like a cold or flu virus), you won't need antibiotics. But if you have a sore throat due to bacteria — for instance, strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis — you will need antibiotics.

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What's the best antibiotic for a chest infection?

There are several different antibiotics are effective at treating this bacterial infection.
  • Azithromycin. Azithromycin is a first-line treatment for healthy adults under age 65 with bacterial pneumonia. ...
  • Clarithromycin. Clarithromycin is another macrolide antibiotic that is commonly used for pneumonia. ...
  • Tetracycline.

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What does amoxicillin do for a chest infection?

It works by killing the bacteria that cause the infection. When will I feel better? For most infections, you should feel better within a few days. It's very important that you keep taking amoxicillin until your course is finished.

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