to breathe.
- Take paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce high temperature (fever) and to ease any aches, pains and headaches. (Note: children aged less than 16 years should not take aspirin.)
- If you smoke, you should try to stop smoking for good. Bronchitis, chest infections and serious lung diseases are more common in smokers.
- If your throat is sore from coughing, you can relieve the discomfort with a warm drink of honey and lemon.
What about cold and cough remedies?
You can buy many other cold and cough remedies at pharmacies. There is limited evidence of any benefit from taking cold and cough remedies.
Cold and cough remedies often contain several ingredients. Some may make you drowsy. This may be welcome at bedtime if you have difficulty sleeping with a bronchitis. However, do not drive if you are drowsy. Some contain paracetamol, so be careful not to take more than the maximum safe dose of paracetamol if you are already taking paracetamol tablets.
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines should not be given to children aged less than 6 years. There is no evidence that they work and they can cause side-effects, such as allergic reactions, effects on sleep, or hallucinations. These medicines are available for children aged 6-12 years but they are also best avoided in this age group. If you are pregnant, make sure the pharmacist knows, as not all medicines may be suitable for you.
Note: paracetamol and ibuprofen are not classed as cough and cold medicines and can still be given to children.
What is the outlook (prognosis)?
Infection of the large airways (bronchi) in the lungs (acute bronchitis) usually clears without any complications. Occasionally, the infection travels to the lung tissue to cause a serious lung infection (pneumonia).
If you have pneumonia and are well enough to be looked after at home, your outlook is very good. If you need to be looked after in hospital, the outlook is still usually good - but not quite as good. The outlook is also not as good for people who also have long-term illnesses such as lung disease, heart failure or diabetes.
How can a chest infection be prevented?
There are measures you can take to help prevent chest infection and to stop the spread of it to others. You can pass a chest infection on to others through coughing and sneezing. So if you have a chest infection, it's important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and to wash your hands regularly. You should throw away used tissues immediately.
Immunisation against the pneumococcal germ (bacterium) - the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia - and the annual flu (influenza) virus immunisation are advised if you are at increased risk of developing these infections, or of complications such as chest infections.
Children are not only more at risk of complications from these infections, they're also more likely to pass them on to others. That's why all children from age 2 years to those in school year 3 are offered an annual influenza vaccination with a nasal spray rather than an injection.
Cigarette smoke damages the lining of the airways and makes the lungs more prone to infection. So stopping smoking will lessen your risk of developing lung infections. See the separate leaflets called The Benefits of Stopping Smoking and Tips to Help You Stop Smoking.
Drinking too much alcohol can weaken your immune system, putting you at higher risk of chest infections. You can reduce your risks by sticking within recommended limits. See separate leaflet called Alcohol and Sensible Drinking for advice on sensible drinking levels.
- Men and women should avoid drinking more than 14 units a week.
- Your units should be spread out throughout the week rather than concentrated over one or two days.
- You should have at least two alcohol-free days a week.
A healthy balanced diet and regular exercise can help keep your immune system strong, reducing the chance of succumbing to infections, including chest infections.
Most healthy people can get almost all the vitamins and minerals they need from a healthy balanced diet. Howeve