Does a cold always go to chest infection with COPD?

[Hopeful1]

Is it inevitable that what starts as a runny / blocked nose always leads to a chest infection with gunky phlegm? I have mixed moderate COPD/ Asthma but am lucky that still have rescue pack which I do not use till phlegm appears.

A bit fed up as I appear to be allergic to my darling 3 year old grandaughter who brings everything home from Nursery!

[sassy59]

Hi Hopeful1, Pete always has a chest infection if he gets a cold but he’s been on Azithromycin three times a week for a long time and seems to be doing well. X

[Hopeful1 in reply to sassy59]

Thank you.

[peege]

I too always got a chest infection with a cold or sore throat. After tips from here years ago I've taken lots of vitamins & supplements to rebuild my immune system, at first sign of a sore throat I spray with Corvonia Throat Spray an antiseptic & take extra vitamin C. It really worked in helping to stop the infections along with covering my nose & mouth in cold weather. Nowadays I also take Azithromycin 250mgs on Mon, Wed & Fri, Nov to April, this has REALLY helped.

[Hopeful1 in reply to peege]

Thank you.

[Hopeful1 in reply to peege]

Thank you all for your replies.Several take Azithromycin as a prophylactic but sadly I can't as not safe with another regular med. Any antibiotic alternatves others use instead?

[peege in reply to Hopeful1]

The only one I actually know that a friend takes is Doxycycline.....if I were you I'd put up a post with this very question Hopeful1. You may get some interesting replies fingers crossed 🤞

[O2Trees]

No its not inevitable Hopeful. I have had very serious life threatening lung infections following on from viruses, but NEVER from a head cold. I don't take any vitamin C either as I'm not allowed to take it. No idea why, but the only two colds Ive had in recent years both passed without any further problems. Hope yours does too.

Take care

[Izb1]

I have bronchiectasis and a cold always gives me a chest infection, luckily (fingers crossed) I haven't had one for a while x

[Karenanne61]

Not always for me. But I am on azithromycin and multi vitamins and cod liver oil . . . as well as other prescribed meds.

[Thepainterswife]

I’d say not necessarily, my husband was diagnosed with COPD 18 years ago which is now stage 4 emphysema. He doesn’t take azithromycin but does take one doxycycline every day as a maintenance dose . He rarely gets colds , he doesn’t go out and family who have colds stay well away from him but on the rare occasions when he’s had the “sniffles “ it didn’t seem to cause infections. He doesn’t take vitamins etc ( used to when he was getting out and mixing more) but some of the suggestions already mentioned sound good , I might look into the throat spray 😊

[Ergendl]

Hope you get well soon.