Common Cold Symptoms: Viral diseases catch hold quickly in the winter season. Usually a person is first infected with a cold or flu, followed by a chest infection, Chest infection is a respiratory condition that affects the lower respiratory tract and bronchial tubes. Chest infection can also be caused by virus or bacteria. During winters, as the temperature drops, the bacteria-fighting cells in the nose get damaged. Dr. Randeep Guleria, Chairman, Institute of Internal Medicine and Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta, says, “There are two types of chest infections – bronchitis and pneumonia. While bronchitis only affects the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs, pneumonia can go deeper and affect the lung tissue.
difference between common cold and chest infection
Cases of pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Generally, the symptoms of pneumonia are more severe in nature as compared to bronchitis. Both chest infection and common cold can present similar symptoms like mild fever, body aches, cough and weakness. However, there are symptoms that are specific to chest infection such as difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, feeling of heaviness in the chest, etc. There are certain symptoms that are specific to the common cold and are not experienced in chest infections. A person with a common cold due to upper respiratory tract infection will experience sneezing, runny or stuffy nose and watery eyes. However, a person with a common cold may not experience a cough, as cold primarily affects the upper respiratory tract.
symptoms of chest infection
In most of the cases, cough is one of the common symptoms associated with chest infection, as the infection causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes. However, chest infections can be quite bothersome and painful. Since it affects the lower respiratory tract, many people may experience symptoms for more than two weeks as it takes time for the mucus to drain completely from the nasal passages. There is no medical treatment for chest infections and colds. Also, avoid taking antibiotics- as they may not work in most viral infections. In both the cases it is advised to take plenty of rest, drink warm liquids like soup, hot water etc. and avoid caffeine and take steam from a bowl of hot water.
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