Pain in the chest

Pain can also occur in the chest, especially in advanced pneumonia. These can be continuous and can take on a burning character. Such pain can be due to the constant irritation of the windpipe caused by the coughing impulses.

If the pain becomes very severe or reoccurs, a doctor should be consulted again. Breath-related pain can also occur in the chest area. If the pain occurs only during inhalation and then when the breath is held briefly after inhalation, it is usually a harmless muscular cause.

Such pain is usually sharp and similar to muscle ache. It comes from overloading the respiratory musculature due to the many coughs. Occasionally a pinched nerve can also be the cause.

Usually this pain is not so strong that it requires treatment. If necessary, however, pain medication can be used for treatment. If the pain occurs not only during inhalation but also during exhalation, it may be pleurisy.

The holding of air after inhalation as described above is usually painless and is an important criterion for differentiation. If pleurisy is suspected, another visit to the doctor is necessary. In the event of any sudden severe pain in the chest area, especially if it radiates to other parts of the body and there is shortness of breath, a doctor should be consulted immediately or an ambulance should be alerted, as it can of course always be a heart condition regardless of pneumonia.

Pain under the costal arch

Pain under the costal arch can occur, especially in the case of a severe cough in the context of pneumonia. These take on a tearing and sometimes stinging character.Pain in this area can be respiratory, continuous or motion dependent. Continuous or movement-dependent pain is usually harmless and occurs as a sign of muscular overload, which starts in the region of the costal arch.

Smaller incarcerations of the rib nerves also occur particularly frequently in this area. These show themselves in the same symptoms. Pain of this type is unpleasant, but usually disappears on its own after some time.

If necessary, light painkillers can be taken, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. Respiratory pain can also have the same harmless cause. In some cases, however, an inflammation of the pleura may also be the cause. More details are described in the section “Chest pain“.