Many viruses, like the common cold, will clear naturally and antibiotics will not help fight a cold virus. But there are viral infections such as flu that can be more serious and cause breathing problems.
It can be really difficult to tell, especially in young children, the difference between a viral chest infection and a bacterial chest infection. The signs and symptoms can be very similar if not identical.
But the other added complication… is that there may be a bit of both at play.
Viruses are experts are causing inflammation in our airways. This can disrupt the usual barriers that keep out nasty bacteria.
So it’s not uncommon for a chest infection to start out viral…but then allow bacteria to get in and start causing infection as well.