Chest crackles

[Aimzxo]

Hi all

I went to the GP today as I feel absolutely rotten, usual flu symptoms, fatigue, achey, snotty nose, sneezing, I feel like im swallowing glass and im coughing up green phlegm, funny taste in my mouth but the reason I went is I have chest pain when I breathe. The GP listened to my chest and said that it wasn't wheezy but she was prescribing me antibiotics anyway as a precaution 3 a day for 5 days so a relatively short course. I've since looked in my nhs app and it states that I had crackles in my left and lower lung fields. Now when I google that it says that's a symptoms of pneumonia. Can anyone on here with a medical background or knowledge advise if this sounds like pneumonia? I can imagine if it is i will need more antibiotics, but im just querying it tonight before I can see a GP x

A while ago, I went to the GP because I had a rotten cough. He sent me to hospital becayse he could hear crackles in my chest as he wanted me to have an x-Ray. I think this added to me having a fever and a fast heart rate made him request an x-Ray, rather then the crackling in isolation.

I had crackles in my lungs in January and it was diagnosed as walking pneumonia and the GP gave me antibiotics. How do you know your antibiotics aren't to treat pneumonia given the symptoms recorded? 3x a day for a week is a middle range of antibiotics to take, the shortest course I have know is 1x a day for 3 days.

crackles can be a feature of lots of things. You can tell quite a bit by what they sound like/when you can hear them and what the rest of the features of the breath sounds are like. Sounds like the GP's probably quite sensible given the symptoms you have in addition to the signs.

You've got a week's ABs that should clear it. If not you go back and they will either give more ABs or send you for a chest xray

Can you monitor your blood oxygen levels? That’s usually a sign of pneumonia, if they drop.

It doesn’t always come down to the length of an antibiotic course but the strength. I had a course of a anamoxacillan (sp) for a chest infection for five days which did bugger all. The next course was also for five days but it was a much stronger, targeted one. It did clear it (was pretty bad by then tbh)

5 days is standard duration for low risk community acquired pneumonia as per NICE guidelines. Complete the course but of course seek help if your condition deteriorates