How can i tell whether i have a bad cough or a chest infection?

Cough: Sometimes it is hard to know if you just have a cold or something more serious. I usually tell my patients to be seen with persistant fevers, difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough productive of blood or a cough that worsens. Without a chest xray and examination you can't tell.

Chest infection : Detailed history and examination would help to differentiate between the two . http://patient.info/health/chest-infection