Diagnosis of Chest infection

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Diagnosis is based upon symptoms, in particular, a chesty persistent cough, wheezing and sometimes fever, with no other identifiable medical cause.

Examination of the chest and breathing action using a stethoscope (a device to listen to internal body sounds) usually confirms to a doctor whether the lungs are infected.

In severe cases further tests may be required to identify the cause and extent of the infection such as:

taking a sample of sputum
chest x-rays to test for any problems in the lungs

computerised tomography scan (CT scan).

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