Chest Cold Symptoms

A chest cold results from inflammation in the respiratory tract, which makes the passage of air to and form the lungs difficult. Infection of flu virus is one of the most commonly found causes of chest cold. There are some other forms of bacteria and virus, and irritants like chemicals and tobacco smoke can also be responsible for this kind of health problem. In general, chest cold symptoms show up within first two to three days of getting the infection, and it may last for about a week or two.

Symptoms of Chest Cold

Symptoms in adults and children are more or less the same. The intensity of the symptoms largely depends on how badly a person is infected.

Nasal Congestion: One of the first signs of chest cold is obstruction in the nasal passage due to excess mucous. It is accompanied by a runny nose and frequent sneezing. When the infection turns severe, then one may find it difficult to breathe normally and feel shortness of breath because of the blockage.

Chest Congestion: Due to this, one experiences a lot of discomfort in the chest and sometimes, it may give rise to chest pain as well. There will be a wheezing sound while breathing. Congestion in the chest results in accumulation of mucous in the air passage and it gives rise to a bad cough. At times, mucous may get expelled while coughing. This is one of the most irritating chest cold symptoms, as it disrupt normal activities like sleep. Other symptoms of bronchial infection disappear in 1 or 2 weeks, but coughing is one such symptom which refuses to go till 4-6 weeks after the infection.

Other Symptoms: There are some symptoms which have a lot of similarity with cold and flu symptoms. They are low-grade fever, chills, headache, fatigue and weakness, dehydration, muscle pain, lightheadedness, etc. Sometimes, when the symptoms intensify, children may experience pain while swallowing due to swelling in lips. As a result, they find even talking a difficult task.

Treatment

Chest cold is diagnosed with the help of a physical examination of the chest and laboratory tests like throat cultures and X-rays. To bring down the symptoms of pain and fever, doctors prescribe pain relieving medicines. If it is found that the infection is caused by bacteria, then antibiotics are administered to kill the bacteria. Cough medicines and cough drops are given to control the annoying cough. Medicines should be accompanied by drinking of plenty of water, juice, broth, etc. to replenish lost fluids. Water also helps to flush out the harmful substances from the body. Eating hot foods that contain peppers and chilies helps to kill the bacteria. It also helps in thinning up the mucous which can give relief from the congestion. Most importantly, the patient is advised to take adequate amount of rest which helps to speed up the healing process of the body. Use of humidifiers at home, twice a day for about half an hour, is also helpful in this regard. They add moisture to the air which helps in breaking down of the mucus.

If you are suffering from bronchitis, you should avoid irritants like dust, smoke and chemicals, as exposure to these substances may aggravate the symptoms further. You should also ensure that the germs does not spread to other people by maintaining proper personal hygiene.