Chest infection: symptoms, treatment, how long it lasts and when to see a GP

The NHS says chest infections often follow colds or flu, and the main symptoms are a chesty cough (you may cough up green or yellow mucus), wheezing and shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, a high temperature, a headache, aching muscles and tiredness. Pneumonia and bronchitis are two forms, with some different features.

The NHS says that there are things you can do to ease the symptoms. These steps do not clear the infection but help you feel better while the body fights it.

• Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to loosen the mucus and make it easier to cough up.

• Raise your head up while sleeping using extra pillows to make breathing easier and clear your chest of mucus.

• Use painkillers to bring down a high temperature and ease headaches and muscle pain.

• Drink a hot lemon and honey drink to relieve a sore throat. Do not give hot drinks to small children, and do not give honey to children under 12 months.

• Do not smoke, as it can make your symptoms worse. Do not give aspirin to children under 16, and do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding.

• A pharmacist can recommend cough medicines to loosen the mucus. Cough medicines are not suitable for children under 6 years old.

The NHS says treatment depends on the cause. A chest infection is caused either by a virus (like viral bronchitis), which usually clears up by itself after a few weeks and for which antibiotics will not help, or by bacteria (like pneumonia), for which a GP may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial chest infections because they do not work for viral infections. If you are prescribed antibiotics, complete the whole course as advised, even if you start to feel better. You may need a blood test or a sample of mucus to find the cause.

NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries say that for acute bronchitis, antibiotics are not routinely indicated, but should be offered immediately if the person is systemically very unwell, and considered (either immediately or as a backup prescription) if the person is at increased risk of complications.

The NHS says chest infection symptoms usually get better on their own in about 7 to 10 days, and that the cough and mucus can last up to 3 weeks. Bronchitis usually clears up without treatment in around 3 weeks, and for pneumonia most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks.

The NHS says to see a GP if you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks. If you are given antibiotics for pneumonia, contact your doctor if you do not feel any better after taking them for 2 to 3 days.

Chest infections often follow colds or flu, and bronchitis is often caused by infections that can be easily spread through coughing and sneezing, according to the NHS. To avoid passing a chest infection on, the NHS advises covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands regularly and throwing away used tissues immediately. Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.

Pneumonia can sometimes follow another infection such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or COVID-19, the NHS says, and vaccines are available to help protect against infections that cause it.

The NHS says to see a GP if you have a chest infection and you feel very unwell or your symptoms get worse, you cough up blood or blood-stained mucus, you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks, you are pregnant, you are over 65, your immune system is weak (for example you have diabetes or are having chemotherapy), or you have a long-term health condition such as a heart, lung or kidney condition.

For possible pneumonia, the NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have had a cough for up to 3 weeks, you are coughing up yellow or green mucus, you have chest pain that comes and goes or happens when breathing or coughing, or you are short of breath. It says to call 999 or go to A&E if you are struggling to breathe (choking, gasping and unable to speak), you have pale, blue or blotchy skin, lips or tongue, you are coughing up blood, you suddenly feel confused, or you cannot wake your baby or they feel floppy. Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The NHS bronchitis page says to call 111 if you need advice for a child aged 4 years or under, and to call 999 if you cannot wake your baby or they feel floppy. For home care, the NHS says not to give aspirin to children under 16, not to give honey to babies under 12 months and not to give cough medicines to children under 6.

It notes that for pneumonia, babies and young children, older people and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of becoming seriously ill and may need treatment in hospital. The sources used here do not give further specific advice about chest infections in children, so speak to a GP or call NHS 111 if you are worried.

If you keep getting chest infections or are at risk of getting one, for example because you are over 65 or have a serious long-term health condition, the NHS says to ask a GP about the annual flu vaccine, ask whether you should have the pneumococcal vaccine, which helps prevent pneumonia, try to quit smoking and cut down on alcohol.

The NHS pneumonia page lists the pneumococcal, flu, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines as ways to reduce the risk, with eligibility depending on age and risk, and says stopping smoking also reduces your chance of getting pneumonia.

Most chest infections are managed at home with advice from a pharmacist, with a GP or NHS 111 if symptoms are worrying or persistent. A GP may arrange a blood test or mucus sample and, if pneumonia is suspected and more serious illness is likely, refer you to hospital, where you may have a chest X-ray, blood tests, antibiotics, steroids or oxygen.

NICE says a chest X-ray is not usually necessary in primary care, but may be helpful to confirm pneumonia. Private GP and chest clinics can arrange chest X-rays and rapid review. Whichever route you use, antibiotics are only helpful for bacterial infection.