chest x ray for infection :: Article CreatorChest Infection Or 'silent Killer'? GP Issues Urgent Warning Over 4 Signs Your 'bug' Might Be More Sinister
CHEST infections are not out of the norm for this time of year - but sometimes the symptoms could be a sign of something more sinister.
The NHS estimates one in five people will get a cough this winter, with cold, flu and chest infections in high circulation.
3
Chest infections can develop after having a cold or flu, and most the time clear up within a few weeksCredit: Getty
3
A long-term chesty cough could be a sign of a more serious conditionCredit: Getty
A chesty cough that lingers with green or yellow phlegm can usually be attributed to a chest infection.
Other symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain and discomfort, aching muscles, a headache, tiredness, and a high temperature (38˚C or above).
Someone with a chest infection will typically feel unwell for up to 10 days and might need antibiotics, but they should normally begin to feel better after three weeks.
But GP Andy Whittamore, who's also clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK, warned some people are mistakenly told they have a chest infection when their symptoms could be pointing to something potentially more serious.
Read more on winter illnesses
He explained: "A chest infection occurs most commonly when the lungs become infected with either a respiratory virus or a bacterial infection, and they are far more likely to occur in winter when flu and colds are rife.
"Sometimes people are mistakenly told they have a chest infection when, in fact, their symptoms are more aligned to an upper respiratory tract infection [infections of parts of the body involved in breathing]."
Dr Whittamore added the colder air also weakens the immune system and can trigger asthma attacks and flare-ups of other lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis.
He said: "In patients with asthma and COPD or other lung conditions, an exacerbation of symptoms might be misdiagnosed as a chest infection.
TIME BOMB
I contracted 'silent killer' in medical error that gave me cancer 34 years later
GET A WHIFF
Common cold symptom 'could be an early warning sign of 139 diseases'
ASK DR ZOE
I've had a dry patch of skin for months and my wife is worried it's skin cancer
BEAT THE BUGS
16 ways to boost immune system to protect against winter 'quadruple-demic'
"Equally, these patients might be displaying signs of an underlying lung condition that has not yet been picked up."
COPD is a common lung disease that causes restricted airflow and breathing problems, and it's often described as a 'silent killer' because most patients are asymptomatic in the early stages.
I'm a doctor and these 5 changes could be a sign of deadly lung cancer
There are four main symptoms to look out for:
Shortness of breath - this may only happen when exercising at first, and you may sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless A persistent chesty cough with phlegm that doesn't go away Frequent chest infections Persistent wheezing Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition that causes the airways of the lungs to widen and thicken, making it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs.
Deadly pneumonia risk
In some cases a chest infection can develop into pneumonia, which may require hospital admission.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe.
Dr Whittamore advised: "Common symptoms of pneumonia are a cough, difficulty breathing, a high temperature, chest pain, and loss of appetite."
Most people get better in two to four weeks, but babies, older people and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of getting seriously ill.
Chest infection or lung cancer?
Some symptoms of chest infections and lung cancer are similar, such as coughing and shortness of breath.
But one of the distinctive differences is someone with lung cancer may start to cough up blood, said Dr Whittamore.
Other signs that can accompany this are fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.
Dr Whittamore said: "The problem is that, initially at least, some of the symptoms of lung cancer can mimic other illnesses or infections but the best course of action is to speak to your GP if you are concerned about your breathing and other symptoms that don't improve.
"If you have a cough that has lasted for more than three weeks, then you should get checked as a matter of urgency.
"It might be down to a simple infection, but it is essential to rule out other much more serious causes such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or a clot on the lung.
"If there is a possibility that you may have lung cancer, you will be referred for a chest X-ray and possibly a CT scan.
"The quicker lung cancer is diagnosed, the more treatment options are then available."
The NHS in England is currently rolling out a lung cancer screening initiative called the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, where current and former smokers aged between 55 and 74 are invited for a lung check, specifically to rule out lung cancer.
For more information on chest infections or concerns about breathing, visit www.Asthmaandlung.Org.Uk or call the charity helpline on 0300 222 5800.
Further information on lung cancer is available from the NHS.
'Silent killer' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - symptoms and causes
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that makes breathing increasingly more difficult.
It develops slowly over many years so you may not be aware you have it at first.
The main symptoms are:
shortness of breath - this may only happen when exercising at first, and you may sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless a persistent chesty cough with phlegm that doesn't go away frequent chest infections persistent wheezing Symptoms usually get gradually worse over time, but there may be periods when your symptoms get suddenly worse.
COPD is usually associated with long-term exposure to harmful substances, such as cigarette smoke.
Other causes include fumes and dust at work, air pollution, and if you smoke and have a close relative with the condition.
If you have persistent symptoms, particularly if you're over 35 and smoke or used to smoke, see a GP.
There's currently no cure for COPD, the sooner treatment begins, the less change there is of severe lung damage.
Source: NHS
3
Cigarette smoke can increase your risk of developing COPDCredit: Getty
Westfield Health Bulletin: Beware Of Pertussis And Pneumonia Symptoms
I have ordered more chest X-rays in the last few weeks than ever before. Pertussis and pneumonia are definitely prevalent in Western Massachusetts. I can assure you the news accounts are accurate.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a very contagious bacterial infection. It starts like cold symptoms and then develops into the classic, persistent, whooping cough. The bacteria is called Bordetella pertussis and is only found in humans. The bacteria attach to the the tiny, hair-like extensions (cilia) that line the upper respiratory system. The bacteria releases toxins which damage the cilia and cause the airway to swell.
Outbreaks of pertussis were first recorded in the 16th century. The bacteria was first isolated in 1906. Until 1940 in the United States, when the vaccine for pertussis became available, it was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of death in children. Incidence has decreased by 75% since vaccine availability. Globally, pertussis and death from pertussis continues in high numbers.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
How To Tell If You Have Pneumonia Or The Common Cold
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
It's cold and flu season, but cases of pneumonia seem to be popping up everywhere too. The CDC has stated that cases of bacterial infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae have increased in the United States since late spring and have remained high.
Cases have increased significantly among young children, notable because they have not historically been widely affected by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at UPMC, says like many respiratory viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae became uncommon during the pandemic because of social distancing and masking.
"This is a pathogen that goes from person to person," he says. "When you cough or sneeze and you're in a close environment, it's spread by those droplets that you're coughing or sneezing, and so its reemergence has a lot to do with now we're back to our usual behaviors."
Snyder notes pneumonia, which is inflammation in the lungs, could be caused by bacteria, a virus or both. For walking pneumonia, so named because you can still function while ill, symptoms mimic cold symptoms — coughing, congestion and headache.
Snyder says there are various ways to identify whether you're experiencing the common cold or a type of pneumonia.
"If a child is having, let's say, a persistent cough with a fever, and you take your child to the pediatrician, the pediatrician may listen to the lungs and say, 'Aha. I can hear on the exam that sounds like there's a pneumonia."
A doctor could also order a chest X-ray, or they may use a nasal swab to test for the bacteria that causes pneumonia.
"Usually in most offices, those are either testing just for COVID, or they're testing for a combination of COVID, flu and RSV, but some of those tests that doctors can use test for a bigger range of respiratory germs," Snyder says.
Antibiotics are appropriate for bacterial pneumonia or your doctor may prescribe an anti-viral for viral pneomnia.
Snyder says to listen to your gut as to whether or not your illness is serious.
"I always encourage people to use judgment," he says. "If you're concerned about how sick your child looks, for example, make sure you seek medical care. It may be appropriate to go to an urgent care or [emergency department]."
Snyder says if you have a cough or fever that lasts more than a few days you should talk to your doctor about whether it could be pneumonia.
Anyone at risk of complications, such as those with asthma, should perhaps "lower your threshold to seek care and consider antibiotic treatment."
"This can make asthma worse, and that's one of the ways that this bacteria can cause more trouble than just a mild infection," Snyder says.
Comments
Post a Comment