Infection without cough or fever?

[-Butterfly-]

Is it possible to have a chest infection without a cough or fever? I've just gotten over a cold (2nd one in a month) and again my asthma is flaring but I also feel uncomfortable/pain in the back of my lungs. I don't have a cough, but if I do, it's dry and kind of squeaks. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Homely2 Administrator]

I never like it when I get a pain in my lungs, normally for me it is a sign of a major asthma flare.

However last time I went to GP with breathlessness and chest pain, but no cough or fever, he said I had a chest infection and put me on antibiotics rather than steroids. I ended up in hospital for asthma five days later, so who knows.

Chest pain scares me, so I would either chat through with asthma UK helpline or try and see GP.

[-Butterfly- in reply to Homely2]

Oh dear, that's not good! Sorry to hear you ended up in hospital. I will attempt to see the GP to be on the safe side.

[Holly_ALUK Partner Asthma Nurse]

Hi there -Butterfly-

Sorry to hear you are unwell, absolutely agree with the advice already given to seek a medical assessment of you chest via your GP or 111.

[-Butterfly- in reply to Holly_ALUK]

Thank you. Trying to get an appointment at the GP is proving very difficult at the moment!

[-Butterfly- in reply to Holly_ALUK]

Managed to get an appointment for Friday

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

You've already had some advice from the experts but in case it helps, I've had several very sneaky chest infections! No one has guessed that's what they are until they flare my asthma up and I end up with a chest X-ray in hospital. Literally no fever, asthma cough and other symptoms only, no bringing up gunk with the cough.

Hope you get in to see someone soon and get it sorted. I just wanted to say this in case you get told that you must have a fever or productive cough to have an infection, as that's not always true.

[-Butterfly- in reply to Lysistrata]

This is really useful, yes, thank you.

The asthma care isn't great with my GP and so being armed with as much info as I can always helps. I have been told my peak flow is fine at 400 because that's high for a lot of people, yet its only 60% for me for example.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to -Butterfly-]

Oh yes I know that problem! My best is 630, predicted is 450. And mine doesn't drop neatly in line with severity - I've had more than one severe attack with dodgy blood gases and my peak flow is still 380/400! Another less severe attack it was below 50% best but definitely not as bad.

[-Butterfly- in reply to Lysistrata]

So frustrating isn't it! I rang the GP, no appointments until after Xmas, said it was for my asthma and managed to get one for Friday.

[Poshcards in reply to Lysistrata]

hi, how do you know what % it is please x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Poshcards]

Do you mean what percent it is of your best or predicted? My best is 630 so 50% is 315.

Say you blew 250 and your best is 400.

250 divided by 400 is 0.625

0.625 times 100 is 62.5. So 250 peak flow is 62.5% of your best.

I hope that helps but let me know if you weren't asking that.

[Poshcards in reply to Lysistrata]

Thank you, perfect answer, I have never been told any of this x

[peege]

Several times I've had chest infections without the warning of cold, cough or fever. Had pleurisy twice too without any kind of warning however those two led to pneumonia - thats why if you have pain & discomfort do see a gp to get lungs listened to. They can hear different sounds ie infection = crackling, pleurisy is a rasping sound to name but two.

[-Butterfly- in reply to peege]

Thank you for your reply. I've had pneumonia before but I felt shocking. I have an appointment booked for Friday with the asthma nurse.

[Jamesd1986]

I have just recently learned that it can be possible to have a chest infection without realising. I had a bad fever / virus in october and cough. Recovered and then cought another very mild cold cough shortly after, but have been suffering with an asthma flare up and nocturnal cough / clear mucus at night since, and managed to get some anti biotics. Praying they work! and hope you get well soon

[-Butterfly- in reply to Jamesd1986]

Fingers crossed they work for you soon. I'm really struggling with an asthma flare up too, I hope I get some sense at the GPs