A chest infection is a broad term used by doctors to describe various chest conditions, the majority of which are caused by a virus. The symptoms are of a fever, cough, chest pain, and crackles heard when your child is breathing. They may also complain of difficulty in breathing. This infection may also be caused by a bacteria and if so will need antibiotics to treat it. Your doctor will know if your child has this type of infection by listening to their chest and advising on what the best treatment is. If you think your child might have a chest infection, it is important that you check this out with your doctor.