A chest cold occurs when the airways of the lungs swell and produce mucus in the lungs. That's what makes you cough. A chest cold, often called acute bronchitis, lasts less than 3 weeks and is the most common type of bronchitis.
Causes
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus and often occurs after an upper respiratory infection. Bacteria can sometimes cause acute bronchitis, but even in these cases, antibiotics are NOT recommended and will not help you get better.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acute bronchitis last less than 3 weeks and can include:
- Coughing with or without mucus
- Soreness in the chest
- Feeling tired (fatigue)
- Mild headache
- Mild body aches
- Sore throat
Read more at: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/bronchitis.html
