Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Chest infection viral or not?

86 replies

emilylouisex1 · 23/11/2023 18:37

How do you tell the difference between a virus and bacterial infection in your chest? I've had a cough for two weeks and didn't think anything of it until this morning when I started getting pain and wheezing, even my therapist heard it and advised I contact my doctor asap.
So I did...saw my doctor and they said my temp, bp, heart rate are normal and she couldn't hear any wheezing in my chest. She gave anti biotics as a pre caution if still suffering by the weekend and I hate taking them but worried if I don't I will get worse. When I breath out it's a long wheeze, it really baffles me how she didn't hear it when she listened to it. Can a virus cause wheezing? She also said the pain is probably costochondritis from all the coughing...

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/11/2023 20:37

I can hear the wheeze but doctor is convinced it's viral

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 27/11/2023 07:18

Still suffering :( I don't have a temp, very crackling breathing, don't know what colour my flem is as I swallow it by reflex 😭 I've woke up with a cold today and feeling really rough. I was taking anti biotics but came out in hives so 111 said to stop, I took 3. 111 said best thing to do is an x ray of chest but he doesn't think it's an infection as I don't have a temperature

OP posts:
Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 07:34

Bacterial chest infection will have you running a temperature and coughing up greenish / yellow phlegm. Yours does sound viral and they can take a while to clear up

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 27/11/2023 07:45

Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 07:34

Bacterial chest infection will have you running a temperature and coughing up greenish / yellow phlegm. Yours does sound viral and they can take a while to clear up

Thank you, no temp! Just feel really rough, is it normal to feel a weird bubbling/wheeze when you breathe and have pain still if viral? Doctors did check me Thursday they said viral but two years ago (I did have a temp however) but they said it was viral and 3 weeks later I was in hospital on oxygen so I always panic when a cold hits my chest 😭

OP posts:
Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 08:31

I've had viral chest infections go on for weeks alot longer than a bacterial 1 and I did get that popping and wheezing that you have . If you are really worried see if you can get it checked again .

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 27/11/2023 09:09

Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 08:31

I've had viral chest infections go on for weeks alot longer than a bacterial 1 and I did get that popping and wheezing that you have . If you are really worried see if you can get it checked again .

Thanks. I initially had a cough for two weeks but then the pain and wheezing started and doc said viral. Just checked again no temp, only thing is my heart rate is slightly quicker than normal but I think that's because I'm unwell and it's not in the 100's, usually 60bpm at rest but now it's 80 at rest. Phoned docs today anyway so hopefully they get back to me

OP posts:
Tilllly · 27/11/2023 09:15

Sounds like upper respiratory viral infection
Loads of it about at the moment

I think they do a precautionary chest x ray after about 4 weeks but it can linger

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 27/11/2023 09:35

Tilllly · 27/11/2023 09:15

Sounds like upper respiratory viral infection
Loads of it about at the moment

I think they do a precautionary chest x ray after about 4 weeks but it can linger

Can it last this long though? I had a normal (no mucus) just tickle cough for two weeks and then it turned into flem on my chest and wheezy, that's when I went doc's and they said no wheeze on lungs so viral - all in all I've nearly had for a month now if I add the cough with no mucus that I had before

OP posts:
Tilllly · 27/11/2023 09:55

I think it can, yes but I think a month is the threshold for a chest x ray

Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 14:09

@emilylouisex1 Hi op , did the doctor get back to you ?

Blinky21 · 28/11/2023 20:37

I just had a viral chest infection that lasted about 8 weeks, after 4 doctors appointments I was sent for an urgent x ray for crackles in both lungs. Xray was clear but a close relative, who is a GP, swears it was pneumonia, which doesn't always show up on x rays apparently. Still struggle if I overdo it or go out in the cold. I'm only in my 40s and never felt so ill!

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 29/11/2023 21:15

Tittyfilarious81 · 27/11/2023 14:09

@emilylouisex1 Hi op , did the doctor get back to you ?

Sorry I haven't updated! Doctor has sent me for a chest x ray, I did start to feel a bit better to so thought I would wait it out but this evening I'm all crackling when I'm breathing again, so will go for the x ray tomorrow. Still no fever and actually feel a lot better in myself! It's just this damn wheeze and cough :( I'm up and about a lot more than I was

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 29/11/2023 21:16

Blinky21 · 28/11/2023 20:37

I just had a viral chest infection that lasted about 8 weeks, after 4 doctors appointments I was sent for an urgent x ray for crackles in both lungs. Xray was clear but a close relative, who is a GP, swears it was pneumonia, which doesn't always show up on x rays apparently. Still struggle if I overdo it or go out in the cold. I'm only in my 40s and never felt so ill!

Oh goodness that sounds awful! I actually feel so much better in myself but I still have the bad cough and crackling when I breath. I had this when I went doctors last week and they said it wasn't an infection and I haven't developed a fever since either

OP posts:
Tittyfilarious81 · 29/11/2023 21:51

@emilylouisex1 glad you're feeling a bit better , viral chest infections can go on and on for a while .

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 29/11/2023 22:43

Tittyfilarious81 · 29/11/2023 21:51

@emilylouisex1 glad you're feeling a bit better , viral chest infections can go on and on for a while .

Longest I've ever had a wheezy cough like this! It is worrying me a bit as I'm asthmatic as it is, but I've seen a few people say the cough and wheeze can last ages and is the last thing to go so hopefully soon!

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 30/11/2023 09:15

Just had the chest x ray, does anyone know how quick it takes to come back? I feel terrible today I can't breath and I'm wheezing a lot more, but again my vitals are normal, temp is good and so is oxygen. Got a bit of chest pain again too. They said it can take a few days to get back to the doc but I do want to know if I have an infection 😭

OP posts:
Tittyfilarious81 · 30/11/2023 10:21

It takes a few days to get back to your doctor, at my doctor's the doctor will review the results and ring you with what they are and if you need any treatment.

Tinybirdie · 30/11/2023 11:32

I have the same at the moment. Relentless cough, sense I can't breathe properly and wheezing, bubbling noises. Now on week 3 and this has been the worst week. Hideous. My daughter also has it and is on an inhaler. I've not gone to the doctor as I'm convinced we both have RSV which is at very high circulating levels. It's a nasty upper respiratory tract virus.

Absolutely wiping me out.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 30/11/2023 13:02

Tinybirdie · 30/11/2023 11:32

I have the same at the moment. Relentless cough, sense I can't breathe properly and wheezing, bubbling noises. Now on week 3 and this has been the worst week. Hideous. My daughter also has it and is on an inhaler. I've not gone to the doctor as I'm convinced we both have RSV which is at very high circulating levels. It's a nasty upper respiratory tract virus.

Absolutely wiping me out.

The wheezing is what worries me the most! I did see the doctor last week when the wheezing started and they said my chest was clear so I'm guessing it's just flem on chest, it's horrible though! Hope you recover soon!xx

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 01/12/2023 09:58

Update! Chest x ray normal no signs on infection, I have mild asthma so they said they think it's the asthma contributing to this. Still have the wheeze and can't breath :(

OP posts:
Tittyfilarious81 · 01/12/2023 10:59

@emilylouisex1 glad your x ray is clear , hopefully your wheeze will clear up over the next couple of weeks

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 01/12/2023 21:04

Tittyfilarious81 · 01/12/2023 10:59

@emilylouisex1 glad your x ray is clear , hopefully your wheeze will clear up over the next couple of weeks

Thank you! I hope so too, I find it is much worse evenings and mornings so far. Still have a terrible cough but I guess it's one of those things! Didn't get the flu vaccine this year which I fully regret now.

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 02/12/2023 17:03

If chest x ray is normal does that mean there is no infection present?

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 02/12/2023 17:03

Just because I am worse today and worried I may need anti biotics

OP posts:
AutumnFroglets · 02/12/2023 17:14

emilylouisex1 · 01/12/2023 09:58

Update! Chest x ray normal no signs on infection, I have mild asthma so they said they think it's the asthma contributing to this. Still have the wheeze and can't breath :(

Are you using the blue inhaler to help you breathe, ventolin? You might need to do a morning and evening puff to see you through this.

I am assuming you are also on the preventer inhaler, maybe that needs tweaking. Don't accept them dismissing you struggling to breathe.