Chest Infection? - Do you need Antibiotics?

It's often so hard to know when you might need to contact your GP surgery for advice about a cough or chest infection; should you just sit it out and wait for it to get better? How long should you expect it to last? Do you need antibiotics? Maybe you’re wondering why the clinician didn’t give you antibiotics? What are the signs that this could be serious?

I'm Dr Sophie, a British GP / family medicine physician and in this video I answer all these questions and help guide you how to manage at home, advise when you might need to contact your GP surgery and I explain why antibiotics aren’t always the best solution for your respiratory tract infection / cough / cold.

This video is aimed at adults, for children, please have a look at my video on managing children's coughs, colds, sore throats and ear infections.

If you have 30 seconds to spare after watching this video, I would be massively grateful if you could fill out this brief questionnaire: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KRVNJF6

References and useful links:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-i...
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-....
https://dtb.bmj.com/content/36/9/68

Reviewed May 2023 - due for review April 2025