How Long Does an Upper Respiratory (chest Cough) Last?

An upper-respiratory infection (chest cough) usually lasts between 3-14 days. It may take up to 2-3 weeks for symptoms to clear completely. If symptoms last longer than 14 days, it is possible that a patient might have sinusitis, an allergy, pneumonia or bronchitis.

An upper respiratory infection is any type of infection of the head and chest, which can affect your nose, throat, sinuses and ears, and it is caused by a virus, as explained by Dartmouth.edu. The symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include: runny nose, nasal discharge, sore or scratchy throat, a cough, a general feeling of fatigue and fever, as described by Medicinenet.com.

Some effective ways of caring for your upper respiratory infection include drinking lots of fluids, such as water, tea, clear soup broth and inhaling warm moist air, according to Dartmouth.edu. Taking over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen, to relieve aches and malaise helps as well, according to Hopkinsmedicine.org.