flu symptoms. “Because pneumonia is a lung infection, it typically has more respiratory symptoms, while the flu is accompanied by muscular aches and pains and fatigue,” she explains. The flu usually comes on suddenly, while pneumonia takes longer to develop and can be a complication from the flu.
Check if you have 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.
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.
The symptoms of a chest infection are more likely to include coughing and bringing up phlegm. An upper respiratory tract infection may cause a cough, but it can also produce symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked or runny nose and a sore throat. The effects of a chest infection will also tend to last a little longer.
You only need to see your GP if your symptoms are severe or unusual. For example, see a GP if: your cough is severe or lasts longer than 3 weeks. you have a high temperature for more than 3 days - this may be a sign of flu or a more serious condition, such as pneumonia.
The symptoms of a chest infection can include: chesty cough (wet or phlegmy) wheezing. coughing up yellow or green mucus.
However, if you have other respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia with COVID-19, you may have a wet cough that contains mucus. 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.
Often chest infections do not need any medical treatment. But in some cases, antibiotics are needed. Only bacterial infections respond to treatment with antibiotics — they will not help viral infections. If you are prescribed antibiotics you must take the full course even if you feel better after 2 to 3 days.
The symptoms of viral and bacterial chest infections are similar but the colour of any mucus coughed up may indicate the cause; white or clear mucus usually indicates a viral infection whereas green or yellow mucus suggests that the infection is bacterial.
You might also cough up thick, yellow or green mucus. These symptoms may also occur with a cold. But if they last for more than a week or are severe, you may have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics. Only your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
A chest infection affects your lungs, either in the larger airways (bronchitis) or in the smaller air sacs (pneumonia). It is likely that your own immune system will deal with the infection, as most chest infections are caused by a virus. However, antibiotics are sometimes needed to assist with recovery.
Robinson thinks that if you are well enough to get up and about, you are probably well enough to go into work, while taking precautions to try to avoid spreading it. “You should stay at home if you have an illness that involves a fever, because that usually means it's still in its contagious form,” says Khan.
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.
If you have coronavirus (COVID-19), you can spread the virus to other people for up to 10 days from when your infection starts. But many people will no longer be contagious to others after 5 days.
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.
When a chest infection is diagnosed, you will hear crackling or wheezing sounds that are occurring due to inflammation and fluid in the lungs.
A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants such as dust or smoke. It's rarely a sign of anything serious. Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and don't require any treatment.
Green mucus is an indication that your body is fighting off a more serious infection. While the green color may be alarming, it's a natural byproduct of the immune system activity necessary to fight off the infection. Consider seeing your doctor if your other symptoms are getting worse.
One of the first signs of a cold is green or yellow mucus. It's no reason for concern, and in fact, it means your body is working extra hard to fight off infection. White blood cells rush to battle infection, and when they've done their job, they get flushed out of the body along with the virus.
"Pharmacists are trained to advise you on managing your symptoms," says Livingstone. "They are also used to recognising the signs of chest infection. If you're unsure, they can be a good place to start."
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery.
Although chest infections aren't generally as contagious as other common infections, like flu, you can pass them on to others through coughing and sneezing. Therefore, it's important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and to wash your hands regularly.