How can you tell the difference between asthma and a chest infection?

[Bu997]

Following on from the posts about antibiotics.

I have looked at the useful information re: asthma and chest infections on the site and am still not sure where I am with it.

I had an asthma flare up last week following a good spell and a decrease of Seretide 250 dosage to 1 puff 2 x per day alongside Montelukast, Nasonex nasal spray, Fexofenadine. I put the dose back up and after a couple of rough days, things seemed to settle.

By Tuesday, I had continual chest pain on the right side of my chest into my shoulder, coughing up frothy sputum or coloured Mucus if I moved, very fatigued and achy and wheezing and coughing and low temperature.

As discussed in the thread re: antibiotics - my GP has prescribed Prednisolone + antibiotics but am not sure if I need the antibiotics.

I am fairly new to all this as developed asthma symptoms following a virus in March and am not fully clear on the link between asthma and chest infections.

I’d really appreciate any advice thank you

[twinkly29]

It's hard to know with infections (as you've discovered obviously!) To me, the symptoms you describe do sound like an infection (the combination of pain, mucus, aching, fatigue and temp) but knowing whether it's viral or bacterial is another issue. I suppose rather than saying send in some sputum and we will send if off (which takes time), GPs will tend to do the take these antibiotics and if they help then it's more likely bacterial (because it gets things going quickly in case it is).

That doesn't actually help you I know (my reply I mean)!

I think in your case they've been prescribed sensibly (and not just 'asthma flare of shortness of breath, wheeze, cough, here have these antibiotics anyway) so I'd take them as it does sound like an infection....just difficult to know which type without testing.

[Bu997 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you very much twinkly29. It’s hard to know where the virus or infection has come from as I have had very little contact with others. Does the asthma flare up itself make you more vulnerable to developing it if you there is something around as you have a weak spot? (That may be a very daft question😀).

[twinkly29 in reply to Bu997]

I'm not really sure how it works to be honest although I think that having asthma anyway can make you more susceptible to developing infections.... presumably because increased secretions means more chance for viruses or bacteria to thrive? Or something 😅. I guess one could walk in some air that someone else has recently coughed or even breathed into and it's as easy as that. Or existing Inna surface we then touch. A friend's daughter managed to get headlice in the first lockdown in March/April after no school for a couple of weeks and none had come home with her to their knowledge as they were vigilant beforehand....they were baffled (and delighted 🤦)!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Bu997]

It’s a tricky one

For a lot of people infections/viruses really trigger their asthma, making them feel worse than non-asthmatics. So whilst your mate may just get a mild cough, you may have your asthma trigger, which then gives the germ the opportunity to make you feel worse.

For some people (usually uncontrolled asthmatics), they have excessive mucus that can sit in their lungs and if not shifted they can become infected. This is rarer esp if they don’t have an underlying immunity issue (ie no IgG etc).

With any infection, if you are already run down, mild issues can become worse.

Hope this helps 😅🙈

[Bu997 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks twinkly29 and EmmaF91.I really appreciate your answers which make a lot of sense.

[Chip_y2kuk]

Sounds like an infection....

For me my peak flow drops slightly, I start to cough a little (normally well controlled so don't drop/cough at all) I can temporarily correct this by increasing my preventer (thats a combination inhaler)

And if its just asthma misbehaving that will normally sort it .... if its not it will get worse and at that point normally quite quickly

pain in my left side (shoulder blade and bottom of my lung/rub cage) .... that they tell me is the infection and my lung working harder... now for me its *always* my left lung.... dunno why but I can pretty much write the story when I go to the docs but I get a lot of infections

Now i take spiriva so I don't cough a lot of mucus up (one of the things spiriva is used for is breaking down mucus making it easier to move) .... but I sometimes cough up mucus and it can be any shade of green you can imagine ..... they (doctors) have told me if it goes any shade of orange/brown/black thats very bad and to seek *urgent* (ambulance/a and e) attention.... its never been that bad... but I once had a suspected partial collapsed lung..... never seen an out of hours gp go white before and never seen it since

Chip

[Pipswhips]

Dr wouldn't give you antibiotics if you didn't need them.If your breathless, having no sleep , coughing up sputum/ mucus alot chest is tight you need to take your antibiotics and your steriods.

If still having problems contact your dr or if serious get ambulance out they won't mind coming out I know for a fact they can do tests and if need be either get an urgent appoiment or take you up to the hospital but do take those antibiotics other wise you might end up in hospital with pneumonia and I wouldn't want you to have that. I'm on antibiotics and steriods at the moment as I've got a chest infection

Hope this helps you and makes you feel better soon

[Bu997 in reply to Pipswhips]

Thanks very much for the advice. Have finished the prednisolone and antibiotics and feeling better - hopefully back on an even keel😀