Winter chest infections

What causes chest infections? A chest infection is an infection of the lungs (pneumonia) or airways (bronchitis). The latter is usually caused by viruses and pneumonia by bacteria. These infections are spread by coughs, sneezes and hand contact.

They’re common after a cold or flu during winter. What are the symptoms?

A persistent cough, coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood, breathlessness or rapid breathing, wheezing, a high temperature, a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or tightness, feeling confused and disorientated. What you can do

Many viral chest infections aren’t serious and get better within a few days or weeks.

You should get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluid to prevent dehydration, take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, drink a warm honey and lemon drink to relieve a sore throat, raise your head up with extra pillows while sleeping to make breathing easier, inhale steam to ease your cough and if you smoke, stop.

Avoid cough medicines as there’s little evidence they work.

You should see your GP if you feel very unwell or your symptoms are severe, have a persistent fever, your symptoms last longer than three weeks, you feel confused, disorientated or drowsy, have chest pain or difficulty breathing, cough up blood or blood-stained phlegm, you’re pregnant, 65 or over, you think your child has a chest infection, you have a weakened immune system, you have a longterm health condition. How to prevent chest infections

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands regularly.

Make sure you put any tissues you’ve used in the bin immediately. Stop smoking and avoid alcohol as it can make you more vulnerable to chest infections.

Have a flu jab every year.