Chest infections.

[jonty7]

Hi. I was only diagnosed with asthma last march so this is all a bit new to me. It's been a difficult task getting it under control but the current mix of inhaler's and medication seems to be working. My problem is that for the last 4 days I have been coughing up blood and had a high fever. My GP diagnosed a chest infection and put me on antibiotics and I've had a chest x-ray (waiting for results) . What I don't understand is that if it's a chest infection why hasn't my asthma worsened ?As I write this my temperature has retuned to normal but I am also left wondering if any of the medication's for my asthma could be causing the blood. Would love to hear from anyone with similar experience.

[Minushabens]

Your lungs are very complicated things & I don't think even top specialists fully understand what makes them behave in certain ways at certain times.

The blood may not be coming from your lungs though. Your respiratory system is complex & different parts can become infected.

Chest infections are of course major triggers for asthma, but it's not a 100% cause & consequence thing. You may have an upper tract infection that hasn't reached your lungs. It's hard to know. Luckily your GP has got you the x-ray which will show anything nasty.

I've never heard of asthma meds causing bleeding. I won't say it never does because I don't know for certain, but it would be an incredibly rare reaction. So I'd carry on for now with the assumption that your GP has probably called it right & hopefully you will soon recover.

[jonty7 in reply to Minushabens]

Thanks for your input. What I forgot to say was that I had sinus surgery and my septum straightened about 8 weeks ago to ease my breathing. It should have healed by now but maybe the bloods coming from there although my GP doesn't think so. I guess your right and it's a wait and see situation.

[Minushabens in reply to jonty7]

I guess that's a possibility - your sinuses are obviously part of the overall respiratory system so maybe some blood is trickling back down your throat.

From my Ladybird book of first aid days, I seem to recall being told once that coughed-up blood will look differently depending on where it has come from. I can't recall what was said, but if you become very worried (as always, the caveat is that googling symptoms usually puts you straight into 6-weeks to live territory) you might be able to get some clues.

[Hidden in reply to Minushabens]

Hi it is very common with coughing to break a small vein in the throat and this could account for the blood. If it is bright red then it's nothing to worry about unless there are large amounts.

It's only if the blood is dark then it could from the lungs themselves. x

[Hidden]

As Minushabens has said, whilst chest infections can often cause problems for asthmatics they won't always do so. About twelve years ago I went down with an infection which I thought felt like flu: aches, shivering, not much of a sniffle, a tight little cough but not a bad one and my breathing really wasn't too bad; my peak was down a bit, but only by about 5%, so nothing to be overly concerned about. However, eventually I began to feel so awful that I got an appointment with my GP. First thing he did was to listen to my chest whereupon he calmly informed me I had a chest infection! I was more than mildly astonished; my asthma hadn't flared at all.

Hope things begin to improve for you soon.

[johnsmith]

Asthma and chest infection are two different things. Asthma as diagnosed can be faulty breathing as a result of poor muscle control. This can happen after something like a cold. Unfortunately modern medicine reaches for the inhaler rather than look at what is actually happens.

Chest infection is where you get bacteria in the lungs and this irritates and damages the lung linings. As your asthma has remained non affected by the infection it is possible that the asthma is faulty muscular breathing. Worth seeing an Alexander technique teacher for some posture and muscle control advice and help. Hopefully the Alexander teacher may be able to enable improved muscle control which will enable you to not need the inhaler.

Hope I have been helpful.

[healthwish]

U should leave in a sputum sample with the coughed up.blood in it for inspection.in the laboraties. This might help find cause.

[jonty7]

HI all , just a quick update . no longer coughing up blood and feeling a bit better . Thanks for all your help and advice. GP got it right so a course of Amoxicillin seems to have done the trick along with extra Ventolin and paracetamol . From what I understand from the GP there is a lot of really nasty viruses around this year.