I am prone to developing chest infections on a regular basis (at least once every 2-3 months) and they can last anywhere between 2-3 weeks and several months. At my worst I had been suffering from a chest infection for a full year and a half and was sent for a chest x-ray, then blood tests to check for a variety of things, including glandular fever. Afterwards I was referred to an ENT specialist who used a camera to check the inside of my nose and throat and he also checked my ears. All of these tests led to no definitive answers and I was told simply to wait it out. I have also had antibiotics several times but they have never helped. My glands are permanently swollen on one side of my neck, with the other side flaring up occasionally.

I am not a smoker but I do live with smokers and whilst I do my best to avoid second hand smoke it is not possible to completely stay away from in my current living environment. I take vitamins and drink plenty of fluids and try to rest whenever I am unwell but all to no avail.

In the last couple of days I have developed a sore throat that makes it difficult to swallow. My glands are more swollen than usual and my ears are also in some pain. I do not have a runny/blocked nose as I normally do with chest infections or colds, but I do have some minor muscle aches and am feeling fatigued.

Are you able to give any ideas as to what this might be? And why it is that these problems keep occurring? After so many trips to doctors, hospitals and specialists I am still at a loss and the problems are still not remedied. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated as this has been a recurring problem for about five years now.