Letting a chest infection go untreated can lead to severe complications, including respiratory failure, where your lungs can't get enough oxygen, and sepsis (blood infection), a life-threatening body-wide response to infection that can cause organ failure and death. Other risks include lung abscesses, fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusion), and long-term lung damage, requiring hospitalization and potentially invasive treatments like ventilators or surgery.
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.
Changes in the immune system during pregnancy can make a pregnant person more susceptible to viral infections, such as those that cause bronchitis. A person can usually treat bronchitis symptoms with home remedies, and the condition typically goes away on its own.
Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill up with fluid or pus, which makes it harder to breathe. The most common symptoms are cough that may be dry or produce phlegm, fever, chills and fatigue. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain in the chest.
Common symptoms include: Prolonged fever Breathing faster than usual Using extra effort when breathing Being too breathless to feed (young children) or complete sentences (older children) Chest pain when breathing or coughing Symptoms of a chest infection can come on over 24-48 hours or more slowly over several days.
Signs and symptoms of a chest infection
coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood. breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing. wheezing. a high temperature (fever)
Walking pneumonia is a less serious form of the lung infection pneumonia. It's often caused by bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, but other bacteria or viruses can also cause it. Most kids with this type of pneumonia (nuh-MOH-nyuh) don't feel sick enough to stay home — hence, the name "walking" pneumonia.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:
Walking pneumonia is a mild lung infection. Causes may include bacteria, viruses or mold. Symptoms include a sore throat, sneezing, cough, headache, mild chills and a low-grade fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines.
The most common symptoms of bronchitis are:
See your doctor as soon as you can after you start having symptoms. If you have severe symptoms or an existing respiratory system condition your doctor may consider other medicines for a chest infection such as: pain relief medicine. an inhaler (puffer) to open up the airways.
In most cases, yellow mucus shows up in response to inflammation — usually because there's some type of infection in your sinuses or nasal passages. When you develop a cold or catch a virus, your immune system will often trigger mucus production to help trap pathogens.
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.
It could be a sign of something more serious, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, so stay at home and call your doctor right away. For more information, see Bronchitis Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide.
Chest infection symptoms are very similar to that of pneumonia, so many patients mistakenly believe that they are suffering from pneumonia. However, pneumonia symptoms are usually a lot more severe and may last longer than those of a chest infection. The only way that pneumonia can be diagnosed is by a chest x-ray.
A classic sign of bacterial pneumonia is a cough that produces thick, blood-tinged or yellowish-greenish sputum with pus. Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.
When to go to urgent care for pneumonia. You should visit an urgent care clinic for symptoms of pneumonia if you have more than one symptom or if your fever is greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are several reasons why someone with pneumonia might not develop a fever, including: Weakened Immune System: Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as older adults, infants, or those with chronic illnesses, may not develop a strong fever response.
Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia
High fever (up to 105 F or 40.55 C). Cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus. Tiredness (fatigue). Rapid breathing.
“You'll likely need a chest x-ray or CT scan to determine the cause and rule out anything sinister." Phlegm from pneumonia can be a dark brown or a vibrant yellow or green, and “it just looks gross,” Dr. Lindsay says.
A pneumonia cough often sounds deep, wet, and productive (bringing up mucus/phlegm), sometimes with gurgling or rattling sounds (rhonchi), but can also be dry and hacking, especially with walking pneumonia; other signs include wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever, requiring prompt medical attention.
But don't be fooled. Walking pneumonia can still be miserable and is commonly accompanied by a cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, headache, etc. It feels more akin to a bad cold, and despite what the term "walking" implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia
high fever. fast and/or difficult breathing – your child's breathing will become hard work, and you may see the ribs or skin under the neck 'sucking in' or nostrils flaring when they are breathing; younger babies may bob their heads when breathing. cough.
Symptom severity: Walking pneumonia symptoms are usually mild and may resemble a common cold. Pneumonia symptoms are more intense and include a high fever, cough, chest pain, rapid breathing, and, in some cases, low oxygen levels.