Fever and a tight chest: what to know

Acute bronchitis can inflame the airways and cause cough, chest discomfort and fever. COVID-19 may bring fever with cough, breathlessness or chest pressure. In children, bronchiolitis can cause fast breathing, wheezing and difficulty feeding; croup more often causes a barking cough and noisy breathing.

Chest tightness can also come from asthma, anxiety, muscle strain or heart-related problems. Its suddenness, severity, connection with exertion, and effect on breathing are useful details for a clinician.

Rest upright, loosen restrictive clothing, avoid smoke and drink fluids if able. Follow a prescribed reliever inhaler plan, but do not borrow someone else’s medicine. Check breathing, speech, skin colour and alertness. A person with fever should avoid close contact with others until an infectious cause has been considered.

Call emergency services for severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, inability to speak comfortably, blue lips, fainting, new confusion, crushing chest pain, or chest tightness with sweating or collapse. Seek same-day care for persistent tightness, wheezing, fast breathing, dehydration, or fever in an infant or someone with significant heart or lung disease.

Ask whether the chest symptom sounds like airway narrowing or infection, whether an examination or test is needed, and how to use any prescribed inhaler safely.