What's the difference between a chesty cough and a chest infection?

"With a viral cough, you often have a fever which tends to go up and down," explains Coffey. "With a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, you tend to have a consistently high fever - usually around 38-40°C." If your fever remains persistently high, it's worth giving your GP a call.

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How do I know if my cough is 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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Is a chesty cough the same as a chest infection?

Chest infections often follow colds or flu. The main symptoms are: a chesty cough – you may cough up green or yellow mucus. wheezing and shortness of breath.

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When should you see a doctor about a chest cough?

See a GP if:

you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough) your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing. you feel very unwell. you have chest pain.

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What are four signs of chest infection?

Signs and symptoms of a chest infection
  • a persistent cough.
  • coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood.
  • breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing.
  • wheezing.
  • a high temperature (fever)
  • a rapid heartbeat.
  • chest pain or tightness when taking a breath.
  • feeling confused and disorientated.

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How to tell the difference between a cold, flu & chest infection

24 related questions found

How do you tell if a chest infection is viral or bacterial?

Bacterial Infections
  1. Symptoms persist longer than the expected 10-14 days a virus tends to last.
  2. Fever is higher than one might typically expect from a virus.
  3. Fever gets worse a few days into the illness rather than improving.

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Can you have a chesty cough without infection?

Chesty coughs are often triggered by a virus, meaning that antibiotics won't be an effective treatment. They also often follow a sore throat, a cold or the flu. Other chesty cough causes include more serious conditions like asthma, heart failure, chronic bronchitis or a respiratory infection.

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When do you need antibiotics for a cough?

Antibiotics kill bacteria but they do not treat symptoms of an illness, such as ear pain, fever, cough or congestion. Fever is treated with an 'anti-pyretic' such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

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What are 3 symptoms of bronchitis?

Symptoms of bronchitis
  • sore throat.
  • headache.
  • runny or blocked nose.
  • aches and pains.
  • tiredness.

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What can be mistaken for a chest infection?

What If You Have Pneumonia and the Doctor Misses It?
  • The flu (influenza)
  • The common cold.
  • Pleurisy.
  • Sinus infection.
  • Seasonal viruses or “bugs”
  • Other upper respiratory infections.

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What does a pneumonia cough sound like?

Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale.

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When should I be worried about a cough?

Speak to a GP if:

your cough is particularly severe. you cough up blood. you experience shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or chest pain. you have any other worrying symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in your voice, or lumps or swellings in your neck.

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How long are you contagious with a chest infection?

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.

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Does coughing up phlegm mean your getting better?

Does coughing up mucus mean you're getting better? In most cases, coughing up mucus means your body is working to fight off an infection, and it is in the healing stages. Drink plenty of fluids to help thin the mucus.

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How long does a chesty cough normally last?

An acute cough may result from a common cold or other infection. It usually lasts up to 3 weeks but can linger. A chronic cough lasts 8 weeks or more and may be a sign of a lung disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A cough may be a symptom of many different health conditions.

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What is the fastest way to cure a chesty cough?

Take a Hot Bath or Shower

In a similar way that using a humidifier can help open up nasal passages and loosen up your mucus, breathing in the steam and humid air from a hot shower or steam bath can help ease cough and other congestion symptoms.

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Can a chesty cough turn to pneumonia?

So you've been coughing for a while, and instead of getting better, it seems like your cough is getting worse. Maybe you've even started coughing up phlegm or have pain in your chest when you cough. Those are signs your cough might actually be pneumonia.

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How long does it take for a cough to turn into a chest infection?

The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)

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Can a chemist prescribe antibiotics for a chest infection?

Will I get antibiotics? Both pharmacists can write prescriptions, so if after examining you they feel you have a bacterial infection they are able to write you a prescription for the most appropriate treatment. Many conditions are caused by viruses and do not require antibiotics.

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Is a chest infection a dry or wet cough?

A wet or productive cough is the opposite of a dry cough. It is a cough that brings up fluid, such as phlegm. It can be a sign of a respiratory infection, congestive heart failure, and other conditions.

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How do you get rid of a chest infection cough at home?

Home remedies
  1. using a humidifier.
  2. drinking plenty of liquids to replenish lost fluid and keep mucus loose.
  3. getting plenty of rest.
  4. avoiding tobacco smoking.
  5. keeping the head raised while sleeping to help open the airways.
  6. inhaling steam from a warm bath.
  7. inhaling the vapor from essential oils, such as rosemary or eucalyptus.

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Do I need antibiotics for bronchitis?

Treatment. Acute bronchitis usually gets better on its own—without antibiotics. Antibiotics won't help you get better if you have acute bronchitis. When antibiotics aren't needed, they won't help you, and their side effects could still cause harm.

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