Chest infections caused by bacteria and viruses can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Types include pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchitis, and pleurisy. Symptoms include cough, fever, and chest pain. Vaccinations and antibiotics may be prescribed.
A chest infection is a common medical condition in adults and children caused by bacteria and viruses. There are different types of chest infections including pneumonia, whooping cough and bronchitis. If left untreated, this health problem can lead to shortness of breath, a weakened immune system and, in severe cases, even death.
One of the chest infections that often requires hospitalization is pneumonia. Pneumonia causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the chest and lungs. Some of the symptoms are cough, fever and chest pain. Walking pneumonia is a mild form of this infection that is often mistaken for a cold because the symptoms are not as severe as full-blown pneumonia. If a doctor suspects a person has this disease, the doctor may recommend a chest x-ray and prescribe antibiotics if needed.
Some people suffer from chronic infections such as bronchitis. People who have bronchitis usually have a persistent cough, chest irritation, and fatigue. Individuals who have weak respiratory systems such as the elderly and children may be prone to developing bronchitis due to other health problems. To diagnose bronchitis, the patient may need a lung function test, an X-ray, and a bacterial sputum test. Your doctor will also check for lung diseases such as emphysema or asthma.
Some chest infections such as whooping cough are caused by bacteria and are highly contagious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 300,000 deaths worldwide each year from whooping cough alone. The condition causes people to gasp for breath and make loud coughing noises as they try to breathe. Whooping cough is also called whooping cough because the coughing sound made by patients is similar to a whooping noise. Doctors recommend vaccinations for people who have never had whooping cough and may prescribe medications for people diagnosed with the infection.
Pleurisy or pleurisy is one of the infections that affects the lining of the pleura of the lungs. This condition usually occurs in combination with other illnesses such as the flu, lung clots or tuberculosis. When a person has pleurisy, they may feel pain in the chest area when breathing. Since pleurisy is generally considered a secondary condition, most doctors will tend to focus on resolving the primary infection first.
There are also general chest infections of the upper respiratory tract caused by viruses. Typically, people get these infections after getting a cold or sinusitis because they are unable to fight off germs. Individuals who have the flu sometimes develop chest infections as well. Symptoms patients might have with an upper respiratory infection include cough, headache, and fever.
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