ear and chest infection

[Bebecky]

I have recently had a cold which lasted for a few days only then went away except for my cough which seemed to continue through the stages from very dry to very chesty to almost gone. Last week I went to the city for 10 days (I normally live in the clean country air) and after the 5th day I woke up in the morning feeling like I had flu coming - the back of my nose was blocked full of thick lumpy snot (sorry!) and aching all over. Now after 3 days I woke up last night screaming with pain behind my ear radiating right down the left side of my neck and chest, I can't take a deep breath properly and when I cough, I feel that my lung will burst with the tightness and pain. I do believe I have an ear and chest infection and want to know the best antibiotics to buy. I live in the countryside in Turkey and can easily buy antibiotics here - which is the best? please help I am in pain......

[Dr Hungry]

Different kinds of infection require different antibiotics. It sounds quite possible that you have pneumonia in which case it could be any number of different organisms causing it. Go to a doctor - they will probably have a better knowledge of which organsims are most prevalent in your area of Turkey than any of us sitting here in England! It's certainly not something that you should be treating by yourself - the wrong kind of antibiotics will do no good at all. Go see a doctor right away!