I think I have a chest infection..

[MyWedding]

I think I have a chest infection but symptoms are similar to covid. Will GP prescribe antibiotics or will they tell me get a covid test? Any help appreciated

If you have symptoms like a cough they will ask you to get a test, and likely won’t see you until you’ve had a negative result.

Covid test

Hope you feel better soon!

Ring your doctor as soon as they are open and you should get a call back from the doctor. Then they will decide whether they need to see you, just give antibiotics or arrange a test. The covid test could take up to 72 hours before you get a result, so you may be better getting a prescription. I have had a few chest infections/problems before, with a rattling chest and wheezing and have been given an inhaler or antibiotics.

Get tested. I had what felt like a chest infection (I've had a few before) - I tested positive last week.

You should get a test asap as that is the first question the Dr will ask, and you can't tell the difference without s test.

Thank you; I've booked for a test this morning I was hoping in the meantime if the gp could prescribe antibiotics. I feel so rough

@SittingontheRascal how are you feeling now? Are symptoms any better

All the best.

I've had 10 days of up and down with COVID. But always best to know I think.

[quote MyWedding]@SittingontheRascal how are you feeling now? Are symptoms any better[/quote]
Sorry, x-posted.

I've had a bit of a rollercoaster - the symptoms are fine one day, then I feel crappy the next. I have to say though, my fever has gone, my cough has eased and my chest no longer hurts. I think you just have to rest, rest, rest and rest some more. Ride it out and if things get worse, speak to your Doctor.

The loss of taste/smell only came on Tuesday (day 9 I think) - that has really unsettled me. I'm hoping that comes back ASAP!!

Take care.

You need to get a test.
And this might sound odd but surely the reason people are testing positive with what they thought was a chest infection is because Covid IS a chest infection.
I mean they call it a respiratory disease, it is caused by a virus, it infects the airways/lungs, causes temperature/cough breathlessness can lead to pneumonia. That's a good description of a chest infection surely just a particularly nasty one, with more varied complications.
So yeah back to original point if you have chest infection symptoms then you have Covid symptoms so get tested.

That's a good point Yellowish, but I think important to remember that COVID manifests in different ways.

I'm not sure it is a chest infection itself, is it? It causes respiratory illness, much like a flu can. Sorry, I'm not a scientist. Ahem....

My doctor did both antibiotics and covid test

I also think I have a chest infection so have booked a home test this morning. GP is very certain the 3 of us in this house had COVID at the beginning of the year but I’ve been told to get a test anyway. This cough is nowhere near like the cough I had in February (that was brutal) thank goodness but it’s best to be safe.

@SittingontheRascal glad to hear some of your symptoms have now eased..,take care

I have booked a covid test for this morning and gp is going to call back this morning; I don't have the typical symptoms of covid that's why I'm thinking more a chest infection

@slipperywhensparticus

My doctor did both antibiotics and covid test

Which would be the sensible approach I would have thought.

Ring your doctor and talk to them. Prescriptions can be delivered while you’re waiting for a covid result.

GP has prescribed antibiotics and I had a test this morning.

I hope you’re feeling better soon @MyWedding. Regardless of the cause