Chest infection symptoms

A chest infection is an infection that affects lungs, either in the bronchitis or in the smaller air sacs (pneumonia). Children and the elderly are most exposed to chest infection, as well as people who are ill and smokers. It can be serious for these people.
Patients with a weakened immune system, such as the elderly or very young or those that smoke can more easily have symptoms of infection in the chest, starting usually by a sore throat, cold and a cough that produces mucus, which may be green or yellow.
In light of the pandemic in the world and in particular if you have recently visited an infected country like Mexico and exhibit symptoms of chest infection, it is desirable and highly recommended to be checked at your local hospital where a swab will be taken to check the flu virus, the virus H1N1.

Symptoms of chest infection

Headache, dry cough shortness of appetite spit up mucus that is either green or yellow, or the both loss of appetite fever indicated by a high temperature above 38 degrees C (100F) muscle pain a cooling of the body ( sensation of cold)

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, such as the temperature of the body causes a loss of coolant due to dehydration as a result of the infection in the chest.
In general, The main causes include:

• A virus
• Bacteria
• Mycoplasma (a special kind of bacteria).

Diagnosis of chest infections

 Your doctor may use some tests, which could include:

• Chest x-ray
• A sample of your phlegm
• Blood tests.

The treatment of symptoms of lung infections

Certain conditions such as influenza, which is highly contagious, as this is the case of the swine flu or the Mexican flu must be treated with antiviral drugs (Tamiflu), because the antibiotics is not responding to a viral infection. It is essential that the antiviral medication administered in the early stages of the symptoms of chest infection, ideally in the first two days to fight against a lung or pulmonary infection.

The drug Tamiflu, which is the first to be used against the swine flu a pandemic influenza strain, appears to become resistant to this particular strain. "This is not the case of Tamiflu become ineffective, but there are mutational changes and natural derivatives, explains Dr. Len Horovitz, a lung specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Simply because it becomes more resistant does not mean that it is a more deadly virus.

What should I do to treat myself?

If you have a chest infection, you should:

• Get rest and try to avoid being fatigue
• Drink lots of fluid especially water to prevent your body getting dry (dehydration) and to help keep the mucus in your lungs thin and easier to cough up.
• Inhale steam vapour, perhaps with added menthol. This can help to clear the mucus from your chest.
• Avoid lying flat at night to help keep your chest clear of mucus and make it easier to breathe.
• Take drugs or some medicament such Tamiflu or Asperine to reduce high temperature (fever), and to ease any aches, pains and headaches. (Children aged under 16 should not take aspirin.)
• If you smoke, you should try to stop smoking for good. Bronchitis, chest infections and serious lung diseases are more common in smokers.
• If your throat is sore from coughing, you can relieve the discomfort with a warm drink of honey and lemon.

References
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Chest_infections?open
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/chest-infection
http://www.neosante.org/symptomes-infection-a02501449.htm Translated