However do you you know when you need antibiotics for chesty productive cough?

[Panickingpavlova]

Just that really, the phlegm is definitely getting paler in coulor, I feel better but it's still really chesty? At what point do I need antibiotics, no temp and it's not constant at all.
Lat flow done before and after symptoms and negative no covid symptoms.

If you have a cough you need a PCR not a lateral flow. Lateral flow aren't reliable enough to give a definitive answer as to whether you have covid or not

Hi demented.

It's not a persistent cough at all.
I cough on waking and once or twice more throughout the day.
It's not a persistent cough and I don't have a temperature, at the moment I have no issues breathing.

I've had what I have now before and I would normally go to the doctor and I can't...

Sounds more like a post-nasal drip problem than an infection at that level?

How long have you had it? Personally I wouldn’t be seeing a dr about a very mild cough unless it had stuck around for several weeks or I had other symptoms.

Warning, fairly gross content! First thing my doctor asks is what colour is what you're coughing up. Green needs antibiotics, yellow/clear does not, brown means there's blood so needs investigation.

That's what I'm not sure of, when I lie on side I hear a slight wheeze, I'm managing OK at the moment, but I'm also struggling with some of other issues so I wondered at one point, one needs to get antibiotics.

Pinky woo, I'd like say it green a few days ago but now yellow.

It's a deep chesty productive cough.

I'm not a doctor (just asthmatic so had many coughs and chest infections!), but if it's yellow, you don't have a temperature and aren't constantly coughing then you probably don't need antibiotics. However if you're worried or start feeling worse then call your doctor or see a pharmacist.

Thanks pinky.

@Pinkywoo

I'm not a doctor (just asthmatic so had many coughs and chest infections!), but if it's yellow, you don't have a temperature and aren't constantly coughing then you probably don't need antibiotics. However if you're worried or start feeling worse then call your doctor or see a pharmacist.

I am a doctor and agree with this. Colour means nothing either. I go on how you are feeling in yourself and how long it's been going on for.

@Musicaltheatremum thank you.

Been about 4 days so I far and touch wood I feel fine.
I've been seeking medical assistance about something else and it's locked solid, 111, doctors etc... Walk in. I've been unable to seek much help so in hoping this problem is OK.

Most chest infections clear fully between 2-3 weeks.
Green sputum just means it has been sitting a while and does NOT mean you need antibiotics, but a bit of steam might help.

If you have COPD it is a different situation and you need to speak to GP and leave in a sputum sample.

Signs of pneumonia are worsening generally eg weaker/ loss appetite/ poor colour/ faster rate breathing/ temperatures and sweating that are getting worse (usually after a week), confusion, poor urine output, pain in chest with breathing.

Most people wait a week, are not better, get antibiotics for a week and by the time the week of them is finished they are better (that’s because they are now 2-3 weeks in, nothing to do with antibiotics).

If you have no COPD, you sound normal for getting better, I would expect you to be chesty for another week and it will then clear.

You can buy cold & flu tablets specifically for chesty cough. It has following ingredients & it's the guaifenesin you need to break up the mucus.

Ingredients
Ingredients (per capsule) Paracetamol 500mg, Phenylephrine HCl 6.1mg, Guaifenesin 100mg

Why would you need antibiotics if you are coughing less than 3 times a day, have no temperature and are feeling better?

When I get a chesty cough (not frequently) it takes months for it to completely go. From start to finish probably 3 months. Like you say when you walk or exercise or laugh it starts up again.

You need a PCR test, you have a new cough.