Children may also experience other flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, and aches and pains. The coughing associated with chest infection in child patients can sometimes cause them to retch or throw up because they are straining to cough so much.
The symptoms can vary depending on the exact location of the chest infection. Bronchitis, an infection in the main airways bronchial tubes that supply the lungs, is particularly likely to cause a wet, hacking cough that brings up green or yellow phlegm.
Pneumonia, which is an infection in the lungs, may cause additional symptoms such as breathlessness, rapid breathing, and chest pain. Most chest infections in children will get better by themselves in a few days or weeks, but some can cause serious complications. Children should start to improve within a week to 10 days, but the cough can last for four to six weeks. You might also notice that your child is still feeling tired or acting a bit quieter than usual while they are recovering from their illness.
Chest infections can cause severe symptoms such as breathing difficulty in children. You might notice that your child is breathing faster than usual, breathing noisily, or having to work much harder to breathe. Sometimes these breathing difficulties can tire your child out or make it harder for them to eat and drink properly. Chest infections can also develop into more serious complications. The respiratory symptoms can also be so severe that children need extra oxygen or help to breathe.
A mild chest infection or bronchitis can develop into a more serious one, such as pneumonia. Although pneumonia can often be relatively mild, it can cause stronger symptoms and there is a risk of worse complications.
Possible complications of pneumonia include blood poisoning and pleurisy, which is inflammation of the membranes that surround your lungs. The complications of chest infection in child patients can be very serious or even life threatening so it is essential to know when to see a doctor and to understand what you can do to prevent respiratory infections. The term chest infection is used to describe an infection in the lungs or air passages.
The infection can be caused by bacteria or viruses, which spread in the same way as other infections, through coughs and sneezes. The cause of the chest infection is important as it can determine which treatment options are available. The two main types of chest infections are bronchitis, which is usually caused by a virus, and pneumonia, which is most often the result of a bacterial infection.
Bronchitis is an infection in the bronchial tubes, the two main airways that lead into your lungs. Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs themselves, and it can actually develop as a complication of bronchitis as well as after other infections such as the flu.
Chest infections are more likely to take hold when you are recovering from another infection, such as the flu. This is one of the reasons why good hygiene is so important when your child is ill, as it can prevent exposure to secondary infections.
Babies and young children are more likely to develop chest infections, because their lungs and immune systems are not yet mature. Read more about healthy eating and tips on cutting down on alcohol.
If you're at an increased risk of chest infections, your GP may recommend being vaccinated against flu and pneumococcal infections a bacterium that can cause pneumonia. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Chest infection. Chest infection. About chest infections Chest infections are common, especially after a cold or flu during autumn and winter. This page covers: Signs and symptoms of a chest infection What causes chest infections?
Caring for your symptoms at home When to see a doctor Preventing chest infections 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 wheezing a high temperature fever a rapid heartbeat chest pain or tightness feeling confused and disorientated You may also experience more general symptoms of an infection, such as a headache , fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, or joint and muscle pain.
What causes chest infections? Most bronchitis cases are caused by viruses, whereas most pneumonia cases are due to bacteria.
Certain groups of people have a higher risk of developing serious chest infections, such as: babies and very young children children with developmental problems people who are very overweight elderly people pregnant women people who smoke people with long-term health conditions, such as asthma , heart disease , diabetes , kidney disease , cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD people with a weakened immune system — this could be due to a recent illness, a transplant, high-dose steroids, chemotherapy or a health condition, such as an undiagnosed HIV infection Read more about the causes of bronchitis and the causes of pneumonia Caring for your symptoms at home Many chest infections aren't serious and get better within a few days or weeks.
While you recover at home, you can improve your symptoms by: getting plenty of rest drinking lots of fluid to prevent dehydration and to loosen the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to cough up treating headaches, fever and aches and pains with painkillers — such as paracetamol or ibuprofen drinking a warm drink of honey and lemon — to relieve a sore throat caused by persistent coughing raising your head up with extra pillows while you're sleeping — to make breathing easier using an air humidifier or inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water — to ease your cough hot water shouldn't be used to treat young children with a cough, due to the risk of scalds stopping smoking Avoid cough medicines, as there's little evidence they work, and coughing actually helps you clear the infection more quickly by getting rid of the phlegm from your lungs.
Read more about treating bronchitis and treating pneumonia When to see a doctor You should see your GP if: you feel very unwell or your symptoms are severe your symptoms are not improving you feel confused, disorientated or drowsy you have chest pain or difficulty breathing you cough up blood or blood-stained phlegm your skin or lips develop a blue tinge cyanosis you're pregnant you're 65 or over you're very overweight and have difficulty breathing you think a child under five has a chest infection you have a weakened immune system you have a long-term health condition you have a cough that has lasted more than 3 weeks Your GP should be able to diagnose you based on your symptoms and by listening to your chest using a stethoscope a medical instrument used to listen to the heart and lungs.
Preventing chest infections There are measures you can take to help reduce your risk of developing chest infections and stop them spreading to others. Stop smoking If you smoke, one of the best things you can do to prevent a chest infection is to stop. Read more information and advice about stopping smoking Good hygiene Although chest infections generally aren't as contagious as other common infections, like flu, you can pass them on to others through coughing and sneezing.
Alcohol and diet Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse can weaken your lungs' natural defences against infections and make you more vulnerable to chest infections. To keep your risk of alcohol-related harm low, the NHS recommends: not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week if you drink as much as 14 units a week, it's best to spread this evenly over three or more days if you're trying to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it's a good idea to have several alcohol-free days each week Regular or frequent drinking means drinking alcohol most weeks.
Read more about healthy eating and tips on cutting down on alcohol Vaccinations If you're at an increased risk of chest infections, your GP may recommend being vaccinated against flu and pneumococcal infections a bacterium that can cause pneumonia.
These vaccinations should help to reduce your chances of getting chest infections in the future. Read more on myDr website. A sputum culture is ordered to detect and diagnose bacterial lower respiratory tract infections such as bacterial pneumonia. A baby with a cold has symptoms like a blocked nose and cough. Baby colds usually heal without treatment but are sometimes a sign of more serious illness like pneumonia or ear infection.
Read more on Parenthub website. Respiratory tract infections RTIs are respiratory illnesses that refer to a variety of infections of the sinuses, throat, airway or lungs. Read more on Ausmed Education website. Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
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On this page What is a chest infection? What are the symptoms of a chest infection? When should I see my doctor? What causes chest infections?
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