Sputum without cough

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What does phlegm in the throat without a cough mean?

The production of mucus in the throat without any symptoms of cough is the result of the active work of the glands of the bronchial tree, which synthesize their own mucus to moisturize the upper and lower respiratory tract.

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During the outflow of this type of sputum, it mixes with the natural environment of the nasopharynx.

Causes of sputum without cough

In medicine, this biological substance is called trachebronchial secretion. With normal functioning of the respiratory system, a healthy person does not feel any discomfort or increased secretion. Increased concentration and production of sputum without signs of cough is possible in a certain category of people who live in special environmental conditions or work in production with a high content of harmful substances in the air.

In addition to man-made causes and unsatisfactory environmental conditions, there are a number of factors and diseases that can provoke sputum production without symptoms of cough. In this regard, the following reasons are identified for the formation of mucus without bronchial spasm in the lungs, namely:

  1. Work in dusty workshops. When the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract comes into contact with particles of silicates, coal and flour dust, the body triggers a protective reaction of additional production of its own mucus so that the oral cavity, nasopharynx, trachea and bronchial tree do not dry out. With systemic contact with dust, a large concentration of sputum without signs of cough becomes the norm and a person either has to live with an aggravated function of the respiratory system, or change the working environment to a less aggressive one.
  2. Smoking. You need to understand that every puff of cigarette smoke is a minor burn to the mucous membrane of all respiratory organs. The surface of the trachea, larynx and bronchial walls dry out, lose their elasticity and periodically become inflamed. The brain receives information from respiratory receptors that the lungs are being affected by a pathogenic effect and the response signal is increased sputum synthesis.
  3. Laryngeal reflux. This is a fairly rare cause of sputum in the upper respiratory tract. It is due to the fact that as a result of a sudden spasm of the stomach, the mucous contents of the main digestive organ without admixture of gastric juice are thrown into the nasopharynx. As a result of this, a person feels a lump in the throat, and when coughing, a large amount of transparent sputum comes out of the mouth. In such situations, a slightly sour taste may be felt in the mouth.
  4. Drinking strong alcoholic drinks, spicy and too cold food. Alcohol with a strength of 40 degrees or higher, as well as too spicy and cold foods, irritate the bronchial glands and can provoke their increased secretory activity. As a rule, this behavior of the body is temporary and the health of the respiratory system immediately stabilizes after eliminating the irritating factors.
  5. Chronic tonsillitis. The painful condition of the tonsils with the constant presence of foci of infection in their tissues leads to the fact that thick, transparent sputum is constantly formed in order to localize the inflammatory process in the larynx. It always has an unpleasant putrefactive odor, and when it flows outside the larynx, white particles (calcified plaques) can be visually observed, which are essentially the product of the vital activity of infectious organisms parasitizing in the tonsils. In this case, the most common cause of mucus accumulation without signs of cough is infection of the tonsils with a strain of Staphylococcus aureus.
  6. Acute sinusitis. With inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx, swelling of the laryngeal mucosa can spread to segments of the upper respiratory tract. Then thick sputum begins to accumulate in the trachea, which does not provoke coughing attacks. The only thing a person can feel is an unpleasant sore throat and a feeling of a lump that he always wants to get out.
  7. Shengren's syndrome. A rather rare disease, which is characterized by constant increased secretory activity not only of the bronchial glands, but also by abundant irrigation of the entire mucous surface of the respiratory tract. As a result, clear mucus accumulates in a person’s throat and requires systemic outflow. This dysfunction is associated with disruption of the areas of the brain and the endings of the central nervous system responsible for regulating the process of moisturizing the epithelial surface of the respiratory organs.

These are the main reasons when a seemingly completely healthy patient experiences copious sputum production without any symptoms of cough. At the same time, body temperature is also maintained within normal limits.

A final diagnosis always requires a comprehensive examination of the respiratory tract, central nervous system, digestive organs and cerebral cortex. It is also possible to collect sputum for bacterial culture to identify the type of microflora living in the patient’s bronchial tree.

What does it mean if you cough up white, thick mucus, but there is no cough?

The discharge of thick white mucus from the larynx without the urge to cough indicates that a chronic irritant of the bronchial glands is present in the human body. In itself, this condition is not dangerous, since in most cases it is provoked by external environmental factors, or they arise as a result of consuming certain foods (spicy, cold foods or alcohol).

If, in addition to sputum production, there are also symptoms of a cold in the form of rhinitis, sore throat and headache, then it is quite possible that a sluggish inflammatory process is occurring in the larynx, the localization of which is the nasopharynx without moving into the respiratory tract. This is why the patient does not feel the urge to cough.

Expectoration of thick white mucus without manifestation of bronchial spasm for more than 2 days requires seeking medical help from a general practitioner.

After the initial examination, the specialist will issue a referral for tests and examination using special equipment. If no more complex pathology is identified, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment in accordance with the established disease. If dysfunctions of the central nervous system, cerebral cortex, or unusual functioning of the bronchial glands are determined, then the therapist will write a referral to a specialized doctor who will already be involved in the treatment of the established pathology.

Why is there phlegm in the throat and is it possible to swallow it?

With excessive accumulation of phlegm in the throat, a person begins to feel that there is a lump in his larynx that needs to be either coughed out or swallowed. If the latter physiological phenomenon occurs, then there is nothing wrong with it. The mucus will enter the stomach and will be separated into fractions. Subsequently, the swallowed biological fluid, under the influence of enzymes and gastric juice, turns into water, which again enters the body in the form of life-giving moisture.

The feeling of the constant presence of mucus in the throat with excessive activity of the bronchial glands is a normal state of the body, since the nerve endings constantly send a neural impulse that too much mucus has accumulated in the larynx and it is present in larger volumes than is currently required moment. The main thing is that at the same time this feeling is not accompanied by a feeling of suffocation. This is already a serious symptom, indicating swelling of the larynx, which can even be life-threatening.

Can sputum be produced without coughing due to helminthiasis?

In medical practice, there have been numerous cases when patients who complained of copious mucus secretion from the larynx without signs of cough were found to have a helminthic infestation with a higher concentration of parasitic life forms during the examination. A large number of flat and roundworms living in the large intestine have the ability to expand their range of existence. In this regard, worm larvae migrate throughout the body along with the blood and penetrate other vital organs.

The easiest way for helminths to enter the lungs is through the collar vein, which is located in close proximity to the intestinal wall. During the process of gas exchange, helminth larvae from the venous blood enter the arterial blood and, through the pulmonary main vessel, settle in the tissues of the respiratory system. Until the full development phase of the parasite has passed, the presence of helminthic eggs in the lung tissue constantly irritates the respiratory receptors. This biological agent is so microscopic that the brain does not consider this threat significant enough to signal a coughing attack or trigger an inflammatory process to reject foreign life forms.

The only reaction of the body that is observed at this stage of pulmonary helminthiasis is the increased work of the bronchial glands and the constant production of sputum without the urge to cough. Simultaneously with this process, patients always experience increased salivation and a desire to eat sweet confectionery products. This factor of sputum production without coughing also cannot be discounted, since indeed, precedents of this kind have occurred in medical practice. Bronchial spasm still occurred, but much later, when the larval development cycle was completed, and helminths emerged from the eggs, capable of irritating the respiratory receptors more intensely.

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There is no cough but there is sputum in an adult

Phlegm in the throat without cough - causes

Many infectious diseases of the respiratory system are accompanied by the accumulation of large amounts of thick mucus in the throat, which is gradually coughed up. This is a completely normal course of pathologies, since in this way the body is freed from irritating factors and pathogenic cells. But in some cases, there is phlegm in the throat without a cough - the reasons for this phenomenon may be the development of diseases of the respiratory or digestive system. Therefore, to establish a diagnosis you will have to visit a doctor.

Why does phlegm sometimes collect in the throat without coughing?

In the nasal cavity, the mucous membranes are covered with a viscous secretion, which is necessary to protect them from viruses, bacterial cells and fungi. This liquid constantly flows down, in small quantities, along the back wall of the pharynx. Therefore, in the morning you may feel phlegm in your throat without a runny nose or cough. As a rule, it does not cause discomfort, and minutes after waking up, the feeling of a “lump” in the throat disappears.

If the drainage of mucus does not go away, we are talking about postnasal drip. It is a pathology in which excess fluid from the sinuses enters the pharynx. Probable causes of this disease:

  • allergic rhinitis;
  • sinusitis;
  • vasomotor rhinitis;
  • adenoiditis;
  • cysts in the sinuses;
  • inflammation of the mucous membranes;
  • frontitis.

In rare cases, such clinical manifestations occur against the background of individual intolerance to certain foods, especially dairy. After consuming them, there may be a feeling of a “lump” in the throat for several days.

Constant phlegm in throat without cough

When the only symptom is the problem in question, you need to check for the following:

  1. Pathologies that provoke a decrease in the intensity of the salivary glands. The most common disease in this group is Sjögren's syndrome.
  2. Features of the structure of the esophagus. With Zenker's diverticulum, the mucous membrane of the organ has a kind of “pocket” in which a small amount of food accumulates. Its retention causes irritation of the esophagus and pharynx, as well as excessive mucus production.
  3. Sluggish fungal infections. Microorganisms of the genus Candida can provoke the formation of very thick and profuse mucus in the throat. It is usually white and opaque.

Throat hurts and produces phlegm without coughing

If the discomfort is accompanied by accompanying symptoms such as burning or soreness in the throat, pain when swallowing, the following diseases may be the cause:

  • prolonged infectious rhinitis, for example, after ARVI;
  • chronic and sluggish laryngitis;
  • early stage of development of bronchitis;
  • chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis;
  • hypothermia (cold);
  • acute or chronic tonsillitis;
  • mild tracheitis;
  • streptococcal or staphylococcal infection in the throat.

In addition, diseases not associated with damage to the respiratory system can cause accumulation of phlegm in the throat. Laryngopharyngeal reflux is often the trigger. This disease is characterized by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Depending on the acidity of the food bolus, various additional symptoms may be felt - heartburn, pain, soreness.

The effect of gastric contents on the mucous membranes of the esophagus is aggressive, so it leads to spasm of the muscles that control the expansion and contraction of the throat. As a result, there is a feeling of an obsessive “lump” in the throat, and active production of thick sputum begins.

Green sputum when coughing

Green sputum when coughing: causes

Cough is not an independent disease; rather, it is a symptom of other unpleasant conditions. The causes of this condition and the nature of its course can be indicated by the sputum released during coughing.

Sputum contains sufficient quantities of immune cells that can provide reliable protection of the body from pathogenic microorganisms. With the development of inflammatory processes, sputum appears in the bronchi and trachea, combined with mucus. It contains products that provide the body with resistance to microbes, viruses and various fungi.

If the sputum that is released when coughing is green, this indicates its bacterial nature. Its causes may be hidden in the presence of pus in the respiratory tract, as well as a liquid suspension from dead microbes and leukocytes. Shades of sputum can have different colors, depending on the microbes that caused it.

In addition, the development of a cough with green sputum may indicate purulent inflammation in the lungs. Another cause could be sinusitis.

Yellow-green sputum when coughing

If you cough and produce sputum that is yellow-green in color, then there are consequences of purulent discharge. In this way, the human body signals the development of processes in the organs of the respiratory system. The color of sputum is the basis for making a preliminary diagnosis. If the sputum is yellow-green in color, then there is a certain threat to human health. To eliminate it, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination.

Green sputum when coughing in the morning

Green sputum when coughing in the morning does not appear out of nowhere on its own. In order for the human body to be reliably protected from the effects of pathogenic bacteria on its respiratory system, it contains healthy bronchial secretions that are colorless and odorless. If this secretion acquires a green color and appears in the morning, therefore, there is the development of a certain pathology.

Most often, this happens when a person develops chronic bronchitis. This is especially evident in cases with children. If a child develops green sputum in the morning against a background of ongoing cough, you should consult a doctor to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe timely treatment.

Also, similar symptoms are typical for smokers with many years of experience. They very often experience the appearance of green sputum in the morning when they cough, as a reaction of the body to the effects of nicotine.

Severe cough, green sputum

The appearance of green sputum during a strong cough indicates the addition of pus to the sputum. Depending on its amount, the color of the sputum itself changes. We can also talk about the development of chronic forms of diseases in the patient.

Many people perceive the appearance of green sputum when coughing as pus, but this is not always true. In fact, pus is always mixed with mucus and can be seen in its pure form only after opening a lung abscess. In addition, the appearance of pus becomes possible with purulent pleurisy.

The combination of a severe cough with purulent sputum occurs in various diseases, among which the most dangerous are lung cancer and tuberculosis. This is also observed with lung abscess and bronchial asthma. Another possible reason for the appearance of a strong cough with phlegm and sweat in the morning is the human body’s reaction to external irritating factors. This is observed with the development of allergies. Most often, it is caused by chemical products, upon contact with which such symptoms appear.

Cough with green sputum without fever

Cough itself has a beneficial effect on the human body, since it helps remove excess phlegm and foreign bodies that clog the respiratory tract from the body. Ultimately, this has a direct impact on curing the existing disease.

If there is a cough with green sputum without a rise in temperature, the reasons for this condition may be different. Most often, this occurs in long-term smokers. The absence of temperature indicates that there is no infection in the body that it will fight. At the same time, green discharge means the development of a pathological process in the bronchi caused by the action of nicotine.

In addition, the cause of coughing with green sputum without a rise in temperature may be hidden in the development of inflammatory processes in the bronchial system. True, in this case, sooner or later the temperature will begin to rise as the painful condition develops. The appearance of green sputum indicates the need to consult a doctor regarding the reasons for its appearance in order to take the necessary precautions in time.

Green sputum when coughing: treatment

The release of green sputum when coughing is not uncommon when it comes to diseases of all kinds of bronchitis or respiratory viral infections. In addition, there have been cases where such discharge was observed in the morning for no apparent reason. This way, the body's respiratory system can cleanse itself spontaneously.

However, with an increase in secretion, a pathological process develops in the human body, or this indicates the entry of foreign objects and microorganisms into the respiratory tract. In such cases, sputum discharge takes on the character of a pathological process and requires medical intervention for treatment.

Cough with green sputum in adults

In an adult, the appearance of a cough with sputum indicates that the body has an urgent need to liquefy the sputum and remove it out. There are many ways to treat this condition, and to choose the right method to use, you should consult a specialist.

Most often, in such cases, expectorant drugs are indicated for use by an adult, such as Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Bromhexine, Ambromhexal. In parallel, infusions of medicinal herbs can be used for medicinal purposes, which can promote expectoration and eliminate the course of inflammatory processes. These can be breast mixtures, infusions of wild rosemary, St. John's wort, and all kinds of herbal syrups. It is effective to combat the discharge of green sputum by using compresses, which include jars, mustard plasters, as well as applying grated black radish wrapped in gauze. In addition, radish juice can be used separately or in combination with honey and sugar in different proportions.

Adults with green sputum discharge are recommended to use inhalers and nebulizers for inhalation. If prescribed by a doctor, such procedures should be repeated at least five times a day.

Green sputum when a child coughs

Depending on the reason that caused the release of green sputum when a child coughs, the method of treatment is selected. If it is definitely established that the cause of the child’s condition is the effect of a viral infection on him, the patient should be properly cared for and treatment appropriate to the symptoms that occur. Therapy should be started in a timely manner in order to avoid the involvement of a bacterial infection, in which the principles of treatment will become different. If it is definitely established that the discharge of green sputum in a child is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics should be used for treatment. Moreover, the selection of drugs should be made in accordance with medical recommendations.

If the cause of green sputum in a child is bronchitis, he should be prescribed mucolytic or expectorant medications. Their action ensures the liquefaction of the secretion and its removal to the outside. Antitussive drugs should not be used in this case, since they do not remove mucus, but only block it in the respiratory tract.

If the cause of a child coughing up green sputum is tuberculosis, cancer or pulmonary edema, it should be treated in a hospital setting. The sooner the painful condition is established, the better it will ultimately be for the child, the faster it is possible to begin treatment and the more effective it is to carry it out.

Green sputum without cough

Producing green sputum without coughing is not a separate disease in itself. This is only a signal that a source of inflammation has settled in the human body. The symptoms are simple - the person begins to feel a lump in the throat, there may be pain when swallowing, but there is no serious discomfort.

If the discharge of green sputum is not accompanied by a cough, as well as a rise in temperature, pain in the throat and wheezing in the lungs, you can try to eliminate the condition with local treatment. In this case, it is not necessary to use medications, since this is not particularly necessary.

Treatment with herbs gives a good effect; thanks to their mild action, the process itself is painless. The duration of the treatment course should not be more than a month. The likelihood of pathogenic bacteria and viruses spreading in the patient’s body is eliminated, and the throat is cleared.

If green sputum without cough is observed for a week or more, the patient should be examined in the clinic. It involves a medical examination and tests to determine the cause of what is happening. Based on the results, the cause of sputum production is determined and adequate treatment is prescribed.

Cause of sputum: in the throat and bronchi, with and without coughing, green, yellow, thick

By sputum, health workers understand the secretion that is secreted by the cells of the bronchi, which contains the contents of the nose and its sinuses, as well as saliva. Normally, it is transparent and mucous, there is little of it, and it is released only in the morning from people who smoke, work in dusty industries, or live in dry air conditions.

In these cases, it is called tracheobronchial secretion rather than sputum. With the development of pathologies, the following can enter the sputum: pus, when there is bacterial inflammation in the respiratory tract, blood, when damage to the vessel has occurred on the way from the nose to the end of the bronchi, mucus in cases of non-bacterial inflammation. This content may become more or less viscous.

Pathological processes as the cause of the accumulation of sputum in the throat without coughing usually occupy a localization from the nasopharynx, where the contents of the nose and its paranasal sinuses flow, to the trachea. If the disease has affected deeper structures: the trachea, bronchi or lung tissue, sputum production will be accompanied by a cough (in young children, an analogue of coughing can be vomiting with a large amount of mucus or other contents). Bronchitis and pneumonia can, of course, occur without a cough, but then sputum production will not bother you.

When is sputum production considered normal?

The mucous membrane of the bronchi consists of cells on the surface of which there are cilia - microtubules that can move (normally - in the upward direction, towards the trachea). Between the ciliated cells are small glands called goblet cells. There are 4 times fewer of them than ciliated cells, but they are not located in such a way that after every four ciliated cells there is 1 goblet cell: there are areas consisting of only one, or only of the second type of cells. Glandular cells are completely absent in the small bronchi and bronchioles. Goblet cells and ciliated cells are united by a common name - “mucociliary apparatus”, and the process of movement of mucus in the bronchi and trachea is called mucociliary clearance.

Mucus produced by goblet cells is the basis of sputum. It is needed to remove from the bronchi those particles of dust and microbes that, due to their microscopic size, were not noticed by the cells with cilia that are in the nose and throat.

The vessels are tightly adjacent to the mucous membrane of the bronchi. From them come immune cells that control the absence of foreign particles in the air entering the lungs. Some immune cells are also present in the mucous membrane itself. Their function is the same.

Therefore, sputum, or more precisely, tracheobronchial secretion, is normal; without it, the bronchi would be covered from the inside with soot and impurities, and would be constantly inflamed. Its amount is from 10 to 100 ml per day. It may contain a small number of white blood cells, but neither bacteria, nor atypical cells, nor fibers contained in lung tissue are detected. The secretion forms slowly, gradually, and when it reaches the oropharynx, a healthy person, without noticing, swallows this minimal amount of mucous content.

Why can you feel phlegm in your throat without coughing?

This occurs due to either increased secretion production or deterioration of its excretion. There are many reasons for these conditions. Here are the main ones:

  • Work in enterprises with high levels of air pollution from particles of silicates, coal or others.
  • Smoking.
  • Throat irritation from alcoholic drinks or cold, spicy or hot foods can cause a feeling of mucus without coughing. In this case, there is no malaise, no deterioration in breathing, or any other symptoms.
  • Pharyngo-laryngeal reflux. This is the name for the reflux of the contents of the throat, where the ingredients of the stomach, which do not have a pronounced acidic environment, have arrived, closer to the windpipe. Other symptoms of this condition are sore throat and cough.
  • Acute sinusitis. The main symptoms will be deterioration of the condition, fever, headache, and the release of copious amounts of snot. These symptoms come to the fore.
  • Chronic sinusitis. Most likely, this particular pathology will be described as “phlegm in the throat without cough.” It is manifested by difficulty in nasal breathing, deterioration of smell, and fatigue. Thick mucus secretes from the sinuses into the throat, and this happens constantly.
  • Chronic tonsillitis. Here the person is bothered by “phlegm”, bad breath, whitish masses may be visible on the tonsils, which can be released by themselves and with certain movements of the muscles of the mouth, their smell is unpleasant. The throat does not hurt, the temperature may be elevated, but within 37 – 37.3°C.
  • Chronic catarrhal rhinitis. Here, outside of an exacerbation, the nose only gets stuffy in the cold, and then only on one half; Sometimes a small amount of mucous discharge is released from the nose. During an exacerbation, thick, abundant snot appears, which creates a feeling of phlegm in the throat.
  • Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. Here the main symptom is difficulty breathing through the nose, one half of it, which is why a person may have a headache in this half. The sense of smell and taste also deteriorates, and a slight nasal sound appears. Discharge accumulates in the throat or is discharged outward.
  • Vasomotor rhinitis. In this case, a person may periodically be “overtaken” by attacks of sneezing, which occurs after itching in the nose, mouth or throat. Nasal breathing is periodically difficult, and liquid mucus is released from the nose outward or into the pharyngeal cavity. These attacks are associated with sleep and can appear after a change in air temperature, overwork, eating spicy food, emotional stress or increased blood pressure.
  • Pharyngitis. Here, phlegm in the throat occurs against the background of soreness or pain in it. More often, the sum of these sensations causes a cough, which is either dry or produces a small amount of liquid sputum.
  • Sjögren's syndrome. At the same time, there is a decrease in saliva production, and due to dryness in the mouth, it seems as if phlegm has accumulated in the throat.

Color of sputum without cough

Based on this criterion, one can suspect:

  • mucous white sputum indicates fungal (usually candidiasis) tonsillitis;
  • clear sputum with white streaks may accompany chronic catarrhal pharyngitis;
  • green, thick sputum may indicate chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis;
  • and if yellow sputum comes out and there is no cough, this speaks in favor of a purulent process in the upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis).

If phlegm is felt only in the morning

Sputum production in the morning may indicate:

  • reflux esophagitis - reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and throat. In this case, there is weakness of the orbicularis muscle, which should not let what gets into the stomach back out. This pathology is usually accompanied by heartburn, which occurs when taking a horizontal position after eating, as well as periodic belching of air or sour contents. Occurring during pregnancy and accompanied by constant heartburn, it is a symptom associated with compression of the abdominal organs by the pregnant uterus;
  • chronic sinusitis. Symptoms: difficulty in nasal breathing, deterioration of the sense of smell up to its complete absence, mucus in the throat;
  • chronic bronchitis. In this case, the sputum has a mucopurulent (yellow or yellow-green) character, accompanied by weakness and low body temperature.
  • be the first sign of acute bronchitis. There is an increase in temperature, weakness, loss of appetite;
  • developing in the spring-autumn period, talk about bronchiectasis. Other symptoms include malaise and fever. In summer and winter, a person again feels relatively good;
  • appearing against the background of heart diseases, indicate their decompensation, that is, the appearance of congestion in the lungs;
  • developing in young children, talk about adenoiditis. In this case, nasal breathing is impaired, children breathe through their mouths, but there is no temperature or signs of acute respiratory infections.

Sputum when coughing

If a person notices the appearance of a cough, after which sputum is released, this indicates a disease of the trachea, bronchi or lungs. It can be acute and chronic, inflammatory, allergic, tumor, or stagnant. It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on the presence of sputum alone: ​​an examination, listening to lung sounds, an X-ray (and sometimes a computed tomography) of the lungs, and sputum tests - general and bacteriological - are required.

To some extent, the color of the sputum, its consistency and smell will help you navigate the diagnosis.

Color of sputum when coughing

If you produce yellow sputum when you cough, this may indicate:

  • purulent process: acute bronchitis, pneumonia. It is possible to distinguish these conditions only according to instrumental studies (X-ray or computed tomogram of the lungs), since their symptoms are the same;
  • the presence of a large number of eosinophils in the lung or bronchial tissue, which also indicates eosinophilic pneumonia (then the color is yellow, like a canary);
  • sinusitis. Here there is poor breathing through the nose, separation of not only sputum, but also yellow mucopurulent snot, headache, malaise;
  • bronchial asthma. The disease is characterized by exacerbations, when there is difficulty breathing (difficulty exhaling) and wheezing audible at a distance, and remissions, when the person feels satisfactory;
  • yellow liquid sputum with a small amount of mucus, which appears against the background of icteric discoloration of the skin (with hepatitis, tumor, cirrhosis of the liver or blockage of the bile ducts with a stone) indicates that damage to the lungs has occurred;
  • yellow ocher color speaks of siderosis, a disease that occurs in people who work with dust that contains iron oxides. With this pathology there are no special symptoms other than cough.

Yellow-green sputum indicates:

  • purulent bronchitis;
  • bacterial pneumonia;
  • be a normal symptom after tuberculosis that has been cured with specific drugs.

If a rust-colored discharge is coughed up, this indicates that vascular injury has occurred in the respiratory tract, but the blood, by the time it reaches the oral cavity, has oxidized and hemoglobin has become hematin. This may happen when:

  • severe cough (then there will be streaks of rusty color that will disappear after 1-2 days);
  • pneumonia, when inflammation (purulent or viral), melting the lung tissue, leads to damage to blood vessels. There will be: fever, shortness of breath, weakness, vomiting, lack of appetite, and sometimes diarrhea;

If brown mucus is coughed up, this also indicates the presence of “old”, oxidized blood in the respiratory tract:

  • if the lungs had such an almost always congenital pathology as bullae (cavities filled with air). If such a bulla lay close to the bronchus and then ruptured, brown sputum will be released. If at the same time air also enters the pleural cavity, shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air will be noted, which may increase. The “sick” half of the chest does not breathe, and pain was noted during the rupture of the bulla;
  • gangrene of the lung. Here, a significant deterioration in the general condition comes to the fore: weakness, clouding of consciousness, vomiting, high temperature. The sputum is not only brown in color, but also has a putrid odor;
  • pneumoconiosis - a disease that occurs due to industrial (coal, silicon) dust. Characterized by chest pain, first a dry cough. Gradually, bronchitis becomes chronic, often leading to pneumonia;
  • lung cancer. The disease does not make itself felt for a long time, and coughing attacks gradually appear. A person suddenly loses weight, begins to sweat at night, and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to breathe;
  • tuberculosis. There is weakness, sweating (especially at night), lack of appetite, weight loss, and a prolonged dry cough.

Sputum that is light green to dark green in color indicates that there is a bacterial or fungal process in the lungs. This:

  • abscess or gangrene of the lung. The symptoms of the pathologies are very similar (if we are talking about acute rather than chronic abscess, the symptoms of which are more sparse). This is severe weakness, malaise, shortness of breath, chest pain, very high body temperature that practically does not respond to antipyretics;
  • bronchiectasis. This is a chronic pathology associated with dilation of the bronchi. It is characterized by a course of exacerbations and remissions. During an exacerbation, purulent sputum (green, yellow-green) comes out in the morning and after lying on the stomach. The person feels unwell and has a fever;
  • actinomycosis process. In this case, there is a prolonged elevated temperature, malaise, mucopurulent greenish sputum is coughed up;
  • Cystic fibrosis is a disease when almost all the secretions produced by the body’s glands become very viscous, are poorly evacuated and suppurate. It is characterized by frequent pneumonia and pancreatic inflammation, stunted growth and body weight. Without a special diet and enzyme supplementation, such people may die from complications of pneumonia;
  • sinusitis (its symptoms are described above).

White sputum is characteristic of:

  • ARI: then the sputum is transparent white, thick or foamy, mucous;
  • lung cancer: it is not only white, but there are streaks of blood in it. Weight loss and fatigue are also noted;
  • bronchial asthma: it is thick, glassy, ​​released after a coughing attack;
  • heart diseases. The color of such sputum is whitish, the consistency is liquid.

Diagnosis of sputum by consistency and smell

In order to evaluate this criterion, it is necessary to expectorate sputum into a transparent glass container, evaluate it immediately, and then remove it, cover it with a lid, and let it sit (in some cases, the sputum may separate, which will help in diagnosis).

  • Mucous sputum: it is released mainly during ARVI;
  • Liquid colorless is characteristic of chronic processes developing in the trachea and pharynx;
  • Foamy white or pinkish sputum is released during pulmonary edema, which can accompany both heart disease and inhalation gas poisoning, pneumonia, and inflammation of the pancreas;
  • Sputum of a mucopurulent nature can be released with tracheitis, sore throat, bacterial bronchitis, complicated cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis;
  • Vitreous: characteristic of bronchial asthma and bronchitis with an asthmatic component.

An unpleasant odor is characteristic of complicated bronchiectasis or lung abscess. A fetid, putrid odor is characteristic of lung gangrene.

If the sputum separates into two layers when standing, it is probably a lung abscess. If there are three layers (the top one is foamy, then liquid, then flaky), this may be gangrene of the lung.

What does sputum look like for major diseases?

Sputum in tuberculosis has the following characteristics:

  • slimy consistency;
  • not abundant (ml/day);
  • then streaks of greenish or yellowish pus and white spots appear;
  • if cavities appear in the lungs that violate the integrity of the tissue, streaks of blood appear in the sputum: rusty or scarlet, larger or smaller in size, up to pulmonary hemorrhage.

With bronchitis, the sputum is mucopurulent in nature and practically odorless. If a vessel is damaged, bright scarlet streaks of blood enter the sputum.

In pneumonia, if purulent fusion of the vessels has not occurred, the sputum is mucopurulent in nature and yellow-green or yellow in color. If pneumonia is caused by the influenza virus, or the bacterial process has covered a large area, the discharge may have a rusty color or streaks of rusty or scarlet blood.

Sputum in asthma is mucous, viscous, whitish or transparent. Released after a coughing attack, it looks like molten glass and is called vitreous.

What to do if sputum appears

  1. Contact your doctor. The first should be a general practitioner, then an otolaryngologist (ENT) or pulmonologist. The therapist will give you a referral. We also need to talk about the advisability of donating sputum.
  2. Buy 2 sterile jars for sputum collection. Drink plenty of warm liquid throughout this day. In the morning, on an empty stomach, take 3 deep breaths and cough up (do not spit) any mucus. One jar requires more discharge (this should go to the clinical laboratory), the other requires less (to the bacteriological laboratory).
  3. If the symptoms resemble tuberculosis, sputum must be submitted to a clinical laboratory, where Mycobacterium tuberculosis will be detected under a microscope, three times.
  4. You don't need to do anything on your own. The maximum is to inhale with Berodual in an age-appropriate dosage (if sputum was released after a cough) or dissolve an antiseptic such as Strepsils, Septolete, Faringosept (if there was no cough). Without knowing some nuances, for example, that if you have hemoptysis, you cannot take mucolytics (ACC, carbocisteine), you can seriously harm your body.

Phlegm in the throat - how to remove it. Causes of phlegm accumulation in the throat and treatment

Patients often turn to therapists complaining of discomfort in the throat: accumulation of thick sputum, the presence of a lump, difficulty swallowing. Coughing and expectoration can sometimes help you feel better, but these methods are not always effective. Phlegm in the throat can literally stick to the throat, causing nausea or vomiting. To get rid of it, you need to visit a doctor to find out the causes of the unpleasant symptoms. Find out what causes phlegm and how it can be treated.

Causes of phlegm in the throat

The most common cause of constant mucus is acute infectious diseases, colds. During the first days, sputum is produced abundantly from the nose, and later from the bronchi and trachea. Such discharge is temporary and stops after recovery. If there is no acute disease, but mucus is formed steadily, we can talk about pathology, an unhealthy lifestyle, or the development of some complex disease.

Lump in throat when swallowing

Patients complain that mucus constantly accumulates in the throat, something foreign is stuck. For this reason, they cannot swallow completely and experience great discomfort from this. The main reasons causing this symptomatology:

  1. Disorders of the thyroid gland caused by iodine deficiency (diffuse goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis).
  2. Gastrointestinal pathologies (ulcers, reflux disease, gastritis).
  3. Neurological reasons. A feeling of “choking the throat” can occur, for example, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
  4. Chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, purulent plugs.
  5. Depression, stress and other psychological problems. Women often feel a lump in their throat during pregnancy.
  6. Oncological diseases.

Snot in throat

This unpleasant symptom greatly complicates life: it interferes with eating and provokes coughing. When mucus flows down the back of the throat and accumulates in the nasopharynx, we can assume the presence of:

  • bronchopulmonary diseases;
  • inflammatory processes of the sinuses (pharyngitis, sinusitis);
  • diseases of the esophagus (chronic esophagitis);
  • allergic reactions;
  • various types of irritations (if a person smokes a lot, eats spicy dishes, the body turns on a “defensive reaction” - mucus begins to actively cover all organs).

No cough

If sputum appears, but there is no cough, none of the above causes can be excluded. The disease is provoked by diseases of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the tonsils, colds, lifestyle, and stress. If the mucus in the throat does not clear up, the reason for this may be low air humidity, foreign objects in the nasal cavity, and various muscle diseases.

With an unpleasant odor

According to research, excess mucus and sticky saliva feed the bacteria in the throat, which is the source of the unpleasant odor. Among the main reasons:

  • colds, chronic runny nose, sore throat;
  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • bad teeth;
  • chronic tonsillitis and other diseases of the nasopharynx;
  • pathologies of the nasopharynx, sphenoiditis.

Mucus from stomach in throat

It is observed in diseases and pathologies of the digestive system: pancreatitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, hiatal hernia, reflux disease. With all of them, the mucous secretion is first thrown into the esophagus, then into the pharynx. The contents of the stomach go up involuntarily; a person cannot control this process. Especially a lot of mucus accumulates in the morning.

If your throat hurts

The cause of phlegm can be bacterial throat infections and inflammatory processes (tonsillitis, pharyngitis). If a person has a sore throat, a cough, laryngitis is possible. There are other reasons that cause pain and accumulation of mucus - for example, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, tumor processes, thyroid diseases. With these diseases, no increase in temperature is observed.

With blood

  1. Inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by damage to small vessels. To determine the exact cause, you need to pay attention to the color of the sputum. For example, if it is yellow or green mixed with blood, it means that a person has chronic inflammatory diseases. White mucus with blood may be a sign of bleeding in the esophagus or lungs.
  2. Viral diseases of the respiratory tract.
  3. Severe cough and other reasons leading to rupture of small vessels.
  4. Thrombosis, mitral pulmonary artery defects.
  5. Lung diseases (bronchitis, tuberculosis).

How to get rid of phlegm at home

Since sputum is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, the underlying disease should be treated. To remove mucus from the throat, you should drink a lot of liquid or try to remove it by coughing and coughing. It is recommended to take standard pharmaceutical medications that can loosen mucus and use traditional methods. The latter, alas, bring results only after 2-3 weeks of use.

With the help of drugs

Depending on the cause of the sputum, the patient is prescribed certain medications. If you self-medicate, you may be able to eliminate the symptom, but not the underlying disease. After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes:

  • antibacterial drugs (“Amokislav”, “Flemoxin”);
  • antiviral tablets (Arbidol, Viferon);
  • special sprays (“Inhalipt”);
  • expectorants (“Mukaltin”, “Lazolvan”, “Sinupret”);
  • inhalation with mucolytics (“Ambrobene”, “Lazolvan”).

Folk remedies

If the mucus in the throat does not clear up, it is recommended to use recipes from traditional healers along with medications. For phlegm caused by a cold, you should drink herbal decoctions. Chamomile, oregano, St. John's wort, coltsfoot, and oak bark have excellent expectorant properties. The decoction is prepared simply: 1 tbsp. spoon of any herb pour 1 tbsp. hot water, boil, judge and take several times a day. You can simply drink mineral water by heating it and adding honey.

  1. Saline solution. Dissolve 1 tbsp in 1 glass of water. spoon of salt.
  2. A mixture of salt, iodine, soda. Take 1 teaspoon each of soda and salt, pour a glass of water (warm), add a couple of drops of iodine.

Features of treating mucus in the throat

The bodies of children and pregnant women react specifically to medicinal substances, so not every treatment for sputum is suitable for them. For example, infants have very weak immunity, and the enzyme systems responsible for the distribution of tablets are poorly developed. Most medications are contraindicated for pregnant women: many antibiotics, expectorants.

During pregnancy

If a pregnant woman has a sore throat or a feeling of phlegm in her throat caused by a viral infection, doctors will most likely recommend that she refrain from taking antiviral drugs and do simple herbal gargles. Antibacterial therapy is also undesirable - it is prescribed extremely rarely. It is safe to get rid of mucus in the larynx during pregnancy only using traditional methods and maintaining normal humidity in the room.

The child has

How to remove phlegm from a child? It is much more difficult to cure children than adults. You should not immediately give them medications - first you should use safer methods of traditional medicine. Pediatricians recommend gargling with herbal infusions, irrigating with sprays, and treating with honey. If the sputum does not go away, antibacterial therapy and immunocorrection are prescribed.

Green sputum when coughing

Colds, acute respiratory viral infections and bronchitis are often accompanied by a cough with sputum; it can be transparent, white or green, with various impurities and an unpleasant odor; often it is a change in its color or consistency that helps to establish the correct diagnosis when coughing in a child or adult.

In the bronchi and lungs of a healthy person, a small (ml) amount of a special fluid is produced daily - bronchial secretion, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the respiratory system. This liquid is transparent, without a specific taste or odor, and provides protection and cleansing of the mucous membrane and ciliated epithelium. In young children, it may cause a physiological cough. This cough is not accompanied by signs of a cold or ARVI and often occurs in the morning.

When pathogenic microorganisms enter the respiratory tract and inflammation develops, the amount of secretion increases and it turns into a pathological liquid - sputum.

What is sputum

Sputum is a pathological secretion of the upper respiratory tract; it appears during inflammatory or infectious diseases and, depending on the type of disease, can be colorless, green or yellow, with various impurities and an unpleasant odor.

When there is a disease of the upper or lower respiratory tract in a child or an adult, an inflammatory secretion containing microorganisms, particles of mucous membrane, saliva and nasal discharge accumulates in the bronchi and lungs. All this fluid interferes with the normal breathing process, reduces the supply of oxygen to the blood and interferes with healing. Treatment of diseases accompanied by cough with sputum is aimed at liquefying the pathological secretion and its evacuation from the bronchi and lungs.

Sputum appears in the following diseases:

By changes in the color and consistency of sputum, one can judge the development of pathological processes in the lungs. Transparent and sparse sputum in viral diseases gradually becomes thick, white or yellowish in color - this indicates the spread of a bacterial infection to the lower respiratory tract, and the green color and unpleasant odor indicate congestion in the lungs and further progression of inflammation. Streaks of blood may be the first sign of tissue decomposition in tuberculosis or lung cancer, and they may also occur due to constant straining during coughing.

What does the color of sputum indicate?

  1. Colorless, in minimal quantities - this is a physiological bronchial secretion; cough and other signs of inflammation should be absent.
  2. Transparent “vitreous” thick is a symptom of bronchial asthma; you need to pay special attention to its appearance, especially if it occurs in a child.
  3. Transparent or yellow liquid sputum in large quantities is characteristic of viral diseases.
  4. Thick white-yellow or yellow in color indicates a bacterial infection and pus discharge, often occurring with pneumonia in a child or adult. Treatment of the disease requires the use of antibiotics and a sick child must be shown to a doctor.
  5. Green, viscous with an unpleasant odor - a sign of congestion in the lungs.
  6. The appearance of bloody streaks and threads in coughed up secretions may be a sign of a tuberculosis or oncological process.
  7. Sputum that is red or contains a lot of blood occurs when a lung is collapsing or has pulmonary hemorrhage and requires immediate medical attention.

Treatment

Treatment of cough with phlegm depends on the cause of its occurrence and should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. For viral infections, symptomatic treatment and good care are sufficient; the appearance of yellow or green sputum is a dangerous sign, especially in a child, which means that a purulent process has developed in the respiratory organs. Here treatment should begin with antibiotic therapy and other potent drugs. For bronchitis, treatment is carried out with expectorants and mucolytic drugs, and specific pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis, lung cancer or pulmonary hemorrhage must be treated in a special hospital.

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