Catching a bacterial or viral respiratory infection can make your COPD symptoms worse (ie cause an exacerbation). Having COPD can weaken your lungs natural defence symptoms, putting you at a greater risk of catching an infection and making it more difficult to recover from it.

Since exacerbations are often caused by respiratory infections, inform your healthcare provider if you notice your symptoms getting worse. If it is a respiratory infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or antiviral medication to treat it. If you are prescribed antibiotics, it is important to finish taking all the medication, even if you begin to feel better before the medication runs out. Not finishing your antibiotic medication can lead to the development of drug resistant bacteria (or “super bugs”) which are very difficult to treat.