How do you know if you have a chest infection or just pulled something

[Pamelaaa]

I have had a cough for about three weeks and a cold with quite a lot of mucus. Both are improving and coughing less but Have a really sharp pain in my right side of my chest at breast height when I cough. Feels like something is going to burst. When i wake up in the morning as i breath it sounds a bit crackly. Don't have a temperature but dont feel great and am getting tired and breathless easily. Also get the pain in my chest if I sneeze or breath too deeply. Have I just strained something coughing? Don't want to bother a Dr if not necessary.

Could you have pleurisy? I had it once and it was a secondary infection after a chest infection. It's grim. You may need antibiotics.

Red Flags are fever, pain in the Chest and shortness of breath, so I would get checked out tbh