Chest Infection: When to See a Doctor
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
Chest infection: when to see a doctor, when to call 112, how pneumonia differs from bronchitis, what CRB-65 means and how long recovery takes.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
With a chest infection, when to see a doctor depends on how ill you feel. Most are viral bronchitis that clears up at home in 7 to 10 days, though the cough can last 3 weeks. See a doctor if you feel very unwell or worse, or the cough lasts over 3 weeks. Severe breathlessness, blue lips or new confusion need 112.
- A chest infection affects the lungs or large airways. Bronchitis is usually viral. Pneumonia is more serious and often bacterial.
- The NHS says most improve in 7 to 10 days. The cough and mucus can last up to 3 weeks.
- Antibiotics do not help viral infections. In Spain they always need a prescription.
- Doctors use CRB-65 to judge pneumonia: confusion, fast breathing, low blood pressure and age 65 or over.
- Struggling to breathe, blue lips, coughing up more than a few streaks of blood, or sudden confusion: call 112.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What is a chest infection?
It is an infection of the lungs or large airways, often after a cold or flu. The two main types are:
- Bronchitis (bronquitis in Spain). The airways get inflamed. It is usually caused by a virus and gets better without antibiotics.
- Pneumonia (neumonía). The lung tissue itself is infected. It is often bacterial and can make you seriously ill.
A Spanish report may say infección respiratoria, which covers both.
What are the symptoms of a chest infection?
The NHS lists:
- A chesty cough, sometimes with green or yellow mucus.
- Wheezing and shortness of breath.
- Chest pain or discomfort.
- A high temperature, headache, aching muscles and tiredness.
How do you tell bronchitis from pneumonia?
You cannot be sure at home, and a doctor may need to listen to your chest. These signs point more towards pneumonia:
- You are short of breath at rest, or breathing fast.
- Sharp chest pain that is worse when you breathe in or cough.
- Fever with shivers.
- New confusion. The NHS notes this is common in older people with pneumonia.
When should I see a doctor for a chest infection?
The NHS advises seeing a doctor if:
- You feel very unwell, or your symptoms get worse.
- Your cough has lasted more than 3 weeks.
- You are pregnant or over 65.
- You have a weak immune system, for example from diabetes or chemotherapy.
- You have a long-term heart, lung or kidney condition.
See a doctor today if you feel short of breath, have chest pain when you breathe or cough, or see a few streaks of blood in your mucus. The NHS lists these as reasons for an urgent visit.
When is it an emergency?
Call 112 or go to urgencias if:
- You are struggling to breathe, gasping, or cannot finish a sentence.
- Your lips, tongue or skin look blue, grey, pale or blotchy.
- You cough up more than a few streaks of blood, or any blood with breathlessness or chest pain.
- You suddenly become confused or very drowsy.
- A baby is floppy or you cannot wake them.
What is the CRB-65 score?
It is a short check from NICE, the UK guideline body, to judge how serious pneumonia is. One point for each:
- C, confusion: new muddled thinking about who or where you are, or the time.
- R, respiratory rate: breathing 30 or more times a minute.
- B, blood pressure: the top number under 90, or the bottom number 60 or lower.
- 65, age: 65 years or older.
In NICE's guideline, a score of 0 is low risk and is usually managed at home, with clear advice on when to come back. A score of 1 may be managed at home or need a hospital check. With a score of 2 or more, NICE advises the doctor to consider hospital referral.
The score never replaces the doctor's judgement. NICE notes that other illnesses or pregnancy can change the decision.
A cough or chest infection that is not getting better?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He goes through your symptoms, watches your breathing on camera and tells you whether you need to be examined in person.
Do you need antibiotics for a chest infection?
Usually not. The NHS explains that viral infections, such as most bronchitis, clear up within a few weeks, and antibiotics do not help. Bacterial infections such as pneumonia may need them.
In Spain, antibiotics are prescription-only. See antibiotics in Spain for the rules. If you are given antibiotics for pneumonia, NICE advises seeking help again if you do not start to improve within 3 days.
How can you look after yourself at home?
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
- Raise your head on extra pillows at night.
- Use paracetamol or ibuprofen, if suitable for you, for fever and aches.
- A warm drink of honey and lemon can soothe the throat. Never give honey to a baby under 12 months.
- Do not smoke.
Ask a pharmacist before any cough medicine. They are not for children under 6, and the NHS advises avoiding them with pneumonia.
What about children and babies?
The NHS notes that babies, older people and people with heart or lung disease are at most risk of getting seriously ill. Babies with pneumonia may grunt as they breathe. NICE advises parents to seek help if a fever persists along with harder breathing, poor feeding or drinking, or tiredness that does not lift. A floppy baby, or one you cannot wake, needs 112.
How long does recovery from pneumonia take?
NICE gives this guide for adults:
- 1 week: the fever should be gone.
- 4 weeks: chest pain and phlegm should be much less.
- 6 weeks: cough and breathlessness should be much less.
- 3 months: most symptoms gone, though tiredness may remain.
- 6 months: back to normal.
How do UK, US and Spanish advice compare?
The warning signs are the same everywhere; the numbers differ. The UK uses 999 or NHS 111, the US 911. In Spain, call 112 for an emergency, or see your centro de salud or a private GP. Vaccines help too: the NHS lists flu, pneumococcal, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines for people at higher risk. See who gets the flu jab in Spain.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Ask about fever, mucus, breathlessness and your health conditions.
- Watch you breathe and talk on camera, and count your breathing rate.
- Tell you if home care is enough, or if you need to be examined or have an X-ray in person.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
When should I see a doctor for a chest infection?
See a doctor if you feel very unwell or worse, see streaks of blood in your mucus, have a cough for more than 3 weeks, or are pregnant, over 65, have a weak immune system or a long-term heart, lung or kidney condition.
How long does a chest infection last?
The NHS says most chest infections improve in about 7 to 10 days, but the cough and mucus can last up to 3 weeks.
Do I need antibiotics for a chest infection?
Not usually. Most are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not help with these. Bacterial infections such as pneumonia may need antibiotics, which need a prescription in Spain.
What is the CRB-65 score?
A quick check doctors use for pneumonia. One point each for new confusion, breathing 30 or more times a minute, low blood pressure, and age 65 or over. NICE advises considering hospital referral for a score of 2 or more.
How long does it take to recover from pneumonia?
NICE says the fever should be gone in a week, chest pain and phlegm much better by 4 weeks, cough and breathlessness much better by 6 weeks, and most people back to normal by 6 months.
Sources
- NHS: Chest infection
- NHS: Pneumonia
- NHS: Coughing up blood
- NICE NG250: Pneumonia, diagnosis and management
- MedlinePlus: Community-acquired pneumonia in adults (Spanish)
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
