Chest infection

An upper respiratory infection affects the upper part of your respiratory system, including your sinuses and throat. Upper respiratory infection symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat and cough. Treatment for upper respiratory infections often includes rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relievers. Infections usually go away on their own. What is a respiratory infection? A respiratory tract infection affects the • Upper respiratory infections. • Lower respiratory infections. What is an upper respiratory infection? These infections affect your sinuses and throat. Upper respiratory infections include: • Common cold. • Epiglottitis. • Laryngitis. • Pharyngitis (sore throat). • Sinusitis (sinus infection). What is a lower respiratory infection? A lower respiratory infection affects the airways and lungs. In general, lower respiratory infections last longer and are more serious. These infections include: • • • Chest infection. • Pneumonia. What causes upper respiratory infections? You get an upper respiratory infection when a virus (or bacteria) enters your respiratory system. For example, you might touch an infected surface or shake hands with a person who’s sick. You then touch your mouth, nose or eyes. The germs from your hands enter and infect your body. Who’s at risk for upper respiratory infections? These infections are common, and anyone can catch one. Yet certain groups of people are more at risk of catching infections. Children are at a high risk since they are ...

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. Winter is a time when people prefer to stay indoors with loved ones. This prolonged and often close contact makes it easier for infections to spread around and is the reason why winter sees a rise in chest infections. These ailments can range from a mild cold to disruptive bronchitis and dangerous pneumonia, but all are chest infections since they can affect the lungs, airway, or both. Knowing what the signs of different chest infections are and what to do about them is a useful way to help keep on top of your health during the winter season. Types of Chest Infection Although there are various bacteria and viruses that can be responsible for a chest infection, most cases are divided into one of two categories. The first is acute bronchitis, which means the infection is in the larger airways. “Acute,” by the way, is used to distinguish infection-caused bronchitis from more chronic causes. The second type is pneumonia, which means the infection is in the lungs—specifically the air sacs (alveoli). Of the two types, acute bronchitis is more common. Chest Infection Causes Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a viral infection, and pneumonia most often has a bacterial culprit. Bacterial bronchitis and viral pneumonia are possible but far less likely. Another possible-but-rare cause is a fungal infection from inhaling spores. Getting more specific, the viruses responsible for acute bronchitis are...

Chest infections, whether viral, bacterial, or fungal in origin, will often go away with proper at-home treatment—and lots of rest. However, if your symptoms are not going away or are getting worse, you should talk to your healthcare provider. Sometimes people with chest infections require medical treatment. If you have underlying medical conditions, are over the age of 65, or have a compromised immune system, tell your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing any respiratory symptoms. Parents of very young children should get in touch with their pediatrician if you notice your child is sick and experiencing signs of a respiratory tract infection. By Steph Coelho is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on content related to health, wellness, mental health, chronic illness, fitness, sexual wellness, and health-related tech.She's written extensively about chronic conditions, telehealth, aging, CBD, and mental health. Her work has appeared in Insider, Healthline, WebMD, Greatist, Medical News Today, and more.

A lung infection happens when a virus, bacteria, or fungus gets into your lungs and causes inflammation. Lung infections can range from mild to severe and may require medical treatment. A lung infection is exactly what it sounds like: an infection of one or both of your lungs. There are a couple of common types of lung infections. One of the most common lung infections is You can get pneumonia by breathing in pneumonia-causing bacteria or a virus from someone with pneumonia. This may occur if the person with pneumonia sneezes or coughs. Read on to learn the most common symptoms of a lung infection and what treatment you can expect if you have one. A lung infection can be caused by a virus, bacteria, and sometimes even a fungus. When the large bronchial tubes that carry air to and from your lungs become infected, it’s referred to as Viruses can also attack your lungs or the air passages that lead to your lungs. This is called Lung infections such as pneumonia can range from mild to severe. They may be more severe for people with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions, such as The symptoms of a lung infection vary from mild to severe. This depends on several factors, including your age and overall health, and whether the infection is caused by a virus, bacteria, or The symptoms may be similar to those of a cold or flu, but they tend to last longer. If you have a lung infection, here are the most common symptoms to expect: Cough that produces thick mucus Coughing helps...

Sepsis is a life threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection. Your immune system protects you from many illnesses and infections, but it’s also possible for it to go into overdrive in response to an infection. There are approximately 1.7 million cases of sepsis each year, according to the Keep reading to learn more about sepsis symptoms, treatment, and complications. Sepsis develops when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response in your body. When you experience an infection, your immune system responds by releasing proteins and other chemicals to fight it. Sepsis occurs when this response gets out of control, triggering extensive inflammation. Most infections that cause sepsis are bacterial. But other infections — including Sepsis causes Severe sepsis can lead to Stages of sepsis There are three stages of sepsis: • Sepsis. An infection gets into your bloodstream and causes inflammation in your body. • Severe sepsis. The infection and inflammation is severe enough to start affecting organ function. • Septic shock. Septic shock is a severe complication of sepsis that causes a significant drop in blood pressure. This can lead to many serious complications including: • organ dysfunction • respiratory or heart failure • stroke • possible death While sepsis often occurs in hospital settings, it can also happen in other locations. In some cases, you might not even know you have an infection that could potentially lead to sepsis. It’s...

COVID pneumonia is a lung infection caused by SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It causes fluid and inflammation in your lungs. Worsening difficulty with breathing is the most common symptom of COVID-19 progressing to COVID pneumonia. It’s important to go to the ER if you have symptoms of COVID pneumonia, as it can get worse quickly. Overview What is COVID pneumonia? COVID pneumonia is an infection in your lungs caused by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes What is bilateral interstitial pneumonia seen in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)? The type of pneumonia associated with COVID-19 is almost always in both lungs at the same time (bilateral). Interstitial tissue is what surrounds your lung’s air sacs, blood vessels and airways. How does COVID-19 affect your lungs? COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus infects your airways and damages your lungs. To fight off the infection, your Can you get pneumonia when infected with COVID-19? Yes, you can get pneumonia when infected with COVID-19. The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect your lungs, causing pneumonia. Sometimes you can also get infected with a bacteria that causes pneumonia while your immune system is weakened (this is called a superinfection). If you’re on a ventilator to help you breathe while you’re sick with COVID-19, you’re at higher risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Are COVID pneumonia and COVID-19 different illnesses? COVID-19 and COVID pneumonia are best desc...

Overview Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. It's so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age 2. Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-ul) virus can also infect adults. In adults and older, healthy children, RSV symptoms are mild and typically mimic the common cold. Self-care measures are usually all that's needed to relieve any discomfort. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These may include: • Congested or runny nose • Dry cough • Low-grade fever • Sore throat • Sneezing • Headache In severe cases RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include: • Fever • Severe cough • Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling) • Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down • Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis) Infants are most severely affected by RSV. Signs and symptoms of severe RSV infection in infants include: • Short, shallow and rapid breathing • Struggling to breathe — chest muscles and skin pull inward with each breath • Cough • Poor feeding • Unusual tiredness (lethargy) • I...