Chest infection is a condition in which the lungs are infected by viruses or bacteria. When the infection affects the large airways, it is called bronchitis, and it is called pneumonia when it affects the smaller air sacs. Because of an accumulation of phlegm, the airways inflame causing breathlessness.


Chest infections can affect people of any age, though children, elderly people, and smokers are more susceptible to it. When suffering from this ailment, formation of phlegm is quite natural and coughing is a way of expelling it. However, in some cases, phlegm is not always expelled from the lungs.


This condition is called dry cough and it can turn serious if left untreated, as it can cause asthma.

A chest infection can be treated by a course of antibiotics prescribed by a physician. At the same time, there are ways to treat it at home. One of the easiest remedies is consuming one tablespoon of honey about thrice a day. Honey fights colds and coughs and improves immunity levels. The sufferer can also take one teaspoon of ginger juice and mix it with two teaspoons of honey and consume it about thrice a day to get relief from chest infection and cough. Drinking a cup of hot milk with one teaspoon of turmeric powder also serves as an effective medicine for infections because of turmeric’s medicinal properties. Sucking on cardamom or sugar candy also brings relief from cough.

When suffering from chest infections, one must consume lots of fluids and avoid eating foods that produce phlegm, like, rice, yogurt, banana, fried stuffs, and sugar. Staying away from smoke and smoking is also beneficial. Crushing a fistful of caraway seeds, lightly roasting them and inhaling the vapors will ease the congestion and expel phlegm. Another effective remedy is boiling a bulb of garlic in 60 ml of mustard oil and massaging it on the chest and throat after it has cooled down. Garlic can also be consumed topically or added as garnish in foods. It is beneficial in treating most kinds of viral infections. Other than all this, the sufferer must maintain a healthy balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to keep immune system strengthened. Drinking hot water before going to bed also loosens phlegm and treats cough. The patient can also inhale vapors of Eucalyptus oil mixed in boiling water for five minutes twice a day to treat chest infection and cough.