Winter and chest infections

Chest infections are very common, especially in autumn and winter. Chest infections can be serious and need urgent treatment. However, many chest infections in otherwise healthy people do not need antibiotic medicines and get better quite quickly.

What is a chest infection and what causes it?

There are two main types of chest infection:

Acute bronchitis

This is an infection of the large airways in the lungs (bronchi). Acute bronchitis is common and is often due to a viral infection. Infection with a germ (bacterium) is a less common cause.

Pneumonia

This is a serious infection of the lung. Treatment with medicines called antibiotics is usually needed.

What are the symptoms of a chest infection?

The main symptoms are a chesty cough, breathing difficulties and chest pain. You may also have headaches and have a high temperature (fever). The symptoms of an infection of the large airways (bronchi) in the lungs (acute bronchitis) and a serious lung infection (pneumonia) may be similar; however, pneumonia symptoms are usually more severe.

Physiotherapy

There are several different techniques that can be used for chest clearance including active cycle of breathing, use of oscillatory positive expiratory pressure devices (e.g. ‘Acapella®’ and ‘Flutter®’ machines) and autogenic drainage, percussion and vibration. Some people may find one technique works better than another, or is more convenient.

• It is important that you are shown how to do these exercises / techniques by a respiratory (chest) physiotherapist (physio). He / she will recommend how often you should use these techniques to get the maximum benefit.

Reference and picture: http://patient.info/health/chest-infection