how do you know if you have a viral or bacterial chest infection?
432537
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.
230303
Signs and symptoms of pleurisy might include: Chest pain that worsens when you breathe, cough or sneeze. Shortness of breath — because you are trying to minimize breathing in and out. A cough — only in some cases.
599959
Common viral infections such as an upper respiratory infection can typically be detected by a runny nose, cough, low-grade fever, sore throat, and difficulty sleeping.
129609
['persistent cough.', 'coughing up blood.', 'wheezing.', 'shortness of breath.', 'hoarseness.', 'chest pain, especially when you cough or laugh.', 'frequent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.']
1427260
Chest x ray to look for inflammation in your lungs. A chest x ray is the best test for diagnosing pneumonia. However, this test won't tell your doctor what kind of germ is causing the pneumonia. Blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) to see if your immune system is actively fighting an infection.
517643
Along with a physical exam, your doctor may take a sputum culture, chest X-ray, and blood work to determine if you have a viral or bacterial form of pneumonia, Turner says. Your diagnosis is important since it helps determine treatment. “If you have viral pneumonia, I wouldn't prescribe to you an antibiotic,” says Dr.
230380
The symptoms of a bacterial infection and a virus are often very similar—fever, muscle aches, cough, and sore throat—but they require different treatments.
96053
['Shortness of breath.', 'Coughing.', 'Heavy sputum.', 'Fever and chills.', 'Chest pain that is worse when you breathe or cough.', 'Nausea and vomiting (less common)']
167452
Taking care of yourself at home 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.
1359970
Pneumonia is usually a complication of cold or flu, when the illness lodges in the lungs. If your pneumonia is caused by a virus, the symptoms will be flu-like for the first few days: dry cough, fever, headache, shaking chills, extreme fatigue, a poor appetite, and muscle pain and weakness.
755304
Pneumonia symptoms vs. The flu usually comes on suddenly, while pneumonia takes longer to develop and can be a complication from the flu. The flu is caused by a viral infection, while pneumonia can be caused by either a bacterial infection or viral infection. Flu symptoms include: Body aches and pains.
1238026
How chest infections affect asthma symptoms. Unfortunately, chest infections can be more likely in people with asthma, and they can make your asthma symptoms worse because they make your airways inflamed.
263896
Too much coughing or sneezing can also strain your rib muscles. It can begin slowly over time or happen suddenly. A muscle strain can cause chest pain. Your ribs may feel bruised or tender.
54216
['Frequent coughing that worsens when your child has a viral infection, occurs while your child is asleep or is triggered by exercise or cold air.', 'A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing out.', 'Shortness of breath.', 'Chest congestion or tightness.']
632249
If you have acute pericarditis, the most common symptom is sharp, stabbing chest pain behind the breastbone or in the left side of your chest. However, some people with acute pericarditis describe their chest pain as dull, achy or pressure-like instead, and of varying intensity.
1163401
What causes pleurisy? Most cases are the result of a viral infection (such as the flu) or a bacterial infection (such as pneumonia). In rarer cases, pleurisy can be caused by conditions such as a blood clot blocking the flow of blood into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or lung cancer.
322956
The most common symptom of bronchitis is coughing associated with mucus production. Other symptoms include wheezing or shortness of breath, chest pain, or a low fever. To diagnose bronchitis, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms.