What color of sputum is considered normal and what does it mean if it is white, transparent or foamy?

Pneumonia is a common disease that affects adults and children, requiring timely and qualified treatment. Otherwise, the consequences of the disease can be extremely severe. The main symptom of pneumonia is sputum production. Its color allows the specialist to draw conclusions regarding the severity and nature of the disease.

When the first signs of pneumonia appear, the patient should definitely consult a doctor. You can make an appointment at the Yusupov Hospital using the electronic form on the website or by phone.

Pneumonia itself occurs extremely rarely. As a rule, it is a complication of advanced forms of diseases of the respiratory system. The doctor prescribes a course of treatment for pneumonia depending on the nature of the disease. Pneumonia can be:

• bacterial;
• viral;
• fungal;
• mixed.

The main symptom of pneumonia in children and adults is sputum. It is its color that is taken into account when making a diagnosis. To prevent the development of pneumonia, it is important to seek medical help for any ailments.

Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital are leading specialists in Russia who select an individual treatment program for each patient, allowing them to cure any disease in the early and advanced stages. Timely consultation with a doctor and an effective course of treatment can prevent the development of such a serious pathology as pneumonia.

Causes of productive cough

{banner_banstat0}
A cough is called productive ,

accompanied by the release of mucus. White sputum, as well as other shades, is expectorated. A productive cough occurs when:

• acute upper respiratory tract diseases;
• chronic lung diseases;
• inflammation in the nasopharynx, which is accompanied by accumulation of mucus;
• allergies;
• presence of an addiction: smoking;
• reflux (penetration of stomach contents into the esophagus).

There are many diseases that begin their development with a nonproductive (dry) cough. During therapeutic measures, it becomes productive (white sputum is coughed up).

White sputum when coughing cleanses the respiratory system of pathogenic microbes.

If the pathological condition lasts more than three days, you need to see a doctor.

Treatment process

To get rid of white sputum, you need to find out the reason for its appearance. If the etiological factor is a physiological process, treatment is not carried out. It is enough to eliminate the negative impact, and the problem will be solved on its own. Diseases manifested by the release of bronchial secretions with corresponding characteristics must be treated. To do this, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe adequate therapy.

Treatment of productive cough with viscous white sputum is complex, including medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, breathing exercises and postural drainage.

• Infectious diseases of the respiratory system require etiotropic therapy. For bacterial infections, antibiotics are indicated - macrolides, cephalosporins, penicillins.
• For the treatment of ARVI, antiviral drugs are used - “Arbidol”, “Viferon”, “Kagocel”.
• Fungal infection of the respiratory tract is treated with antimycotics - Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Nystatin.
• To get rid of cough, mucolytic and expectorant drugs are used - Ambroxol, Bromhexine, Broncholitin.
• Desensitizing therapy is used for allergies. Patients are prescribed Suprastin, Tavegil, Cetrin. In severe cases, hormonal sprays are prescribed - Flixonase, Pulmicort.
• If the cause of white sputum is cardiovascular disorders, cardioprotectors, vascular drugs, and antianginal agents are used.
• Immunostimulants and multivitamins allow the body to recover faster from severe pathology - “Bronchomunal”, “Ismigen”, “Undevit”, “Multitabs”.

Additional symptomatic remedies include: decongestants, antiseptic sprays, anti-inflammatory lozenges and lozenges, saline solutions for nasal rinsing. Fever, chills, headache and other signs of intoxication are indications for prescribing NSAIDs - Aspirin, Ibuclin, Nurofen.

Physiotherapy complements basic pharmaceutical treatment. Patients are recommended warming up, inhalation, magnet, electrophoresis, UHF, UV irradiation. Drainage massage is performed in the presence of thick bronchial secretions. Specialists tap, knead and stroke the patient’s back. All movements should be directed from bottom to top - from the lumbar region to the shoulders and neck.

Currently, there is a huge variety of effective and affordable folk remedies used to treat respiratory pathology. They are prepared from medicinal herbs and plants that are safe for humans. Pine buds, coltsfoot, plantain, sage, and marshmallow have anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, expectorant and bactericidal effects. These remedies can be taken independently in the form of decoctions and infusions, but it is better to prepare herbal infusions.

1. A decoction of thyme, chamomile, and sage is used for inhalation.
2. Badger fat ointment is used to lubricate the chest.
3. Milk with soda and honey, milk and onion mixture improve coughing up phlegm.
4. Saline solution, oak bark decoction, propolis tincture are intended for rinsing the mouth.
5. Foot baths help get rid of coughs with white phlegm.
6. Warming compresses are placed on the upper chest and back.

As a result of effective treatment, the bronchi are cleared of mucus and begin to function actively. The volume of oxygen consumed increases, the functioning of the central nervous system and cardiovascular structures is normalized. The condition of the patients is rapidly improving.

What does it mean if the discharge has no color (transparent)

If there is clear mucus, this does not mean that you can calm down and not consult a doctor. This type of sputum often occurs without coughing. The causes of the pathological condition lie in lesions of the nasopharynx.

If clear mucus comes out when you cough, in some cases this indicates infectious pathologies. Lack of color is usually characteristic of their chronic course. Colorless sputum is caused by:

• pathologies of the cardiovascular system (discharge is observed in a small volume);
• oncological diseases (accompanied by a strong cough, after which sputum comes out);
• laryngitis (cough lasts for a long period of time, little is secreted);
• allergic reaction (discharge caused by irritation of the internal membranes).

The causes of hyperproduction of mucus during coughing can be various factors. It is possible to establish the exact nature of its origin only with a complete diagnosis.

Coughing up white mucus without coughing

Enveloping the larynx with white mucus without a reflexive attempt to remove it is a common reason for patients to see a doctor. Most often, this is pure physiology, not dangerous to health: unfavorable ecology, food irritating the mucous membranes, alcoholic drinks.

Most likely, acute respiratory infections provoked an exacerbation of a latent process, which is localized in the upper respiratory tract and does not manifest itself in anything other than hypersecretion of mucus. The pathology does not descend into the bronchi, so there is no cough. But such “innocence” may hide tumors of the nasopharynx, so consultation with a specialist is necessary.

An examination with special equipment and a series of tests will allow you to determine the true cause of hypersecretion and prescribe therapy or send you to a specialized specialist.

If the symptom is in an adult without fever

{banner_banstat1}
White sputum during a cough without fever in adults manifests itself in the following pathological conditions:

• allergy;
• heart failure;
• foreign objects in the air duct;
• inhalation of chemicals;
• nicotine addiction;
• chronic bronchitis in remission;
• neoplasms in the respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract.

Infectious and non-infectious causes provoke white mucus. In the second case, it is easier to get rid of the pathological condition: you need to give up addictions and adhere to a healthy lifestyle.

What medications does the doctor prescribe?

If the patient constantly has phlegm in the throat, but has a good cough reflex, the following are prescribed:

1. Fluditek;
2. Bronchobos;
3. Carbocysteine;
4. Libexin Muco.

The drugs activate enzymes in the bronchial mucosa, increase the elasticity of mucus and regenerate damaged surfaces of the membranes of the respiratory system.

If there is phlegm in the throat and there is no cough reflex, the following is prescribed:

1. Lazolvan;
2. Ambrobene;
3. Bronchoxol;
4. Ketotifen.

These complex-action drugs stimulate the functioning of bronchial cells, reduce the viscosity of thick secretions and provoke a cough reflex by increasing the volume of mucus.

For final correction of symptoms, it is advisable to take:

• mucolytics;
• expectorants;
• inhalations;
• nasal rinsing;
• immunostimulants;
• antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs;
• external medicines,
• physiotherapy;
• fight allergies;
• strengthening the respiratory system;
• therapeutic exercises, etc.

Such measures make it possible to dissolve and remove viscous mucus, restore normal activity of the ciliated epithelium, eliminate infection and strengthen the body's resistance.

If the symptom is of non-infectious origin

When dealing with non-infectious factors, it is important to act in three stages:

1. restore the integrity of the inner lining of the respiratory tract,
2. cure the inflammatory process leading to increased secretion formation,
3. carry out a full course of treatment of chronic pathologies.

It is especially important to do this in cases where sputum is not coughed up and it is difficult to breathe. Then medications are prescribed, primarily aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition.

This allows you to get rid of excess mucus, normalize the condition of the bronchial and pulmonary systems, and also eliminate the phenomena of hypoxia that have developed in the body.

In the case when the mucus in the throat is not coughed up for a long time (14 days or more, which implies congestion), the otolaryngologist prescribes:

1. Chymopsin;
2. Rebonuclease;
3. Trypsin solution.

The first drug thins thick mucus and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the respiratory tract, the second promotes the regeneration of damaged bronchial tissue, thins sputum, and accelerates its elimination.

Trypsin solution is a more powerful drug and is used in cases of severe inflammation of the bronchial tree. It thins phlegm and blood clots in the lungs, eliminates inflammation, rejects pus and promotes the regeneration of damaged tissues. All medications are administered by inhalation and are available by prescription.

Find out more!

• Feeling of a lump in the throat - what does this symptom mean?
• How to get rid of snot in the throat and why do they appear there?
• Expectorants for wet coughs - classification and selection
• How to remove phlegm from the bronchi at home
• Inhalations from A to Z - the choice of medications and the order of their use

Foamy and viscous cough

{banner_banstat2}
Sputum may become slightly foamy when passing through the respiratory tract.

Normally, the volume per day should not exceed 10 ml. When it comes out, it is swallowed back. If everything is in order with a person’s health, the discharge has no odor.

Viscous sputum appears with allergies:

• if the pathological condition is severe;
• with frequent contact with a provocateur (allergen): the mucous membrane swells because of this, swelling occurs.

If the discharge is caused by an allergic reaction, there should be no admixtures of pus or blood clots in the mucus.

White or yellowish viscous sputum occurs with bronchial asthma and indicates a prolonged course of the disease. When the pathological condition worsens, the mucus becomes viscous and transparent. Sputum of this nature is called glassy.

If viscous mucopurulent discharge is observed, this indicates the addition of an infectious agent.

If viscous sputum occurs, you need to undergo diagnostics. If its consistency is quite thick, the mucus can clog the airways. This will lead to serious complications.

Causes of thick mucus

It makes no sense to begin treatment for excess sputum production until the pathology that causes this phenomenon has been identified.
To get rid of it, it is important to determine why secretion accumulates in the throat, and then carry out effective therapy to eliminate it

The impetus for the development of such unfavorable symptoms can be both internal and external factors. A change in the nature of the secretion occurs under the influence of a decrease in the body’s immune forces, metabolic disorders or the introduction of infection. Gradually, there is more and more sputum, and its consistency becomes thicker.

Most often this happens as a result of:

• Changes in water-salt balance;
• lack of fluid in the body;
• various diseases that prevent the ciliated epithelium from performing its functions;
• chronic diseases;
• overheating;
• dry throat, larynx and oral cavity, etc.

These reasons cause a decrease in the amount of fluid in the body, a decrease in throat hydration and a thickening of the consistency of the secretion. As a result, mucus with various properties is formed.

Only a specialist can tell you what to do when you don’t cough up phlegm. Based on complaints and a thorough examination, he is able to make the necessary conclusion.

By analyzing the symptoms, the doctor will determine exactly what caused the development of this condition, prescribe a differential diagnosis and provide the necessary treatment.

What other color can sputum be?

{banner_banstat3}
White sputum when coughing can be a response to pathogenic microflora in the respiratory system, a sign of the development of bronchial asthma.

Mucus can have other shades.
Its basis is
water with glycoproteins, fats, antibodies. Depending on the components, the color of the discharge also changes. It can vary from faint yellow to brownish.

Yellow

Yellowish discharge indicates the development of diseases:

• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• sinusitis.

A yellow tint usually appears when sputum is mixed with purulent discharge. This is a dangerous pathological condition that requires immediate medical attention. The sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis. Yellowish sputum is also observed in heavy smokers.

Green

A greenish discharge indicates the following pathologies:

• bronchitis of various pathogenesis;
• lobar pneumonia.

The pathological condition may be accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, and chest pain.

With blood

Red sputum indicates internal hemorrhage. In this case, clots and streaks of scarlet color are observed in the discharge. If the blood begins to clot, its color becomes rusty.

Sputum with blood is observed when:

• pneumococcal pneumonia;
• malignant neoplasms in the lungs;
• tuberculosis;
• pulmonary embolism.

Internal bleeding poses a serious threat not only to health, but also to life. Therefore, if you experience red sputum when coughing, you should immediately visit the hospital.

Brown

{banner_banstat4}
Brown cough mucus, as a rule, has a non-infectious cause and is associated with destructive processes in the lungs caused by exposure to tobacco smoke or other toxic substances (for example, at work).

It is impossible to establish an accurate diagnosis from sputum alone. You need to undergo diagnostics. Only a specialist in a clinic can do this.

Diseases accompanied by sputum

1. Bronchitis. The causes of inflammation of the walls of the bronchi in the lungs are most often respiratory infections. Acute bronchitis is caused by infections: viruses, bacteria, fungi. Chronic bronchitis occurs due to smoking and prolonged exposure to irritants.
2. Pneumonia accompanied by inflammation of the bronchi. During treatment, a significant amount of sputum may form, which causes a wet cough. This means that the treatment is successful.
3. Bronchiectasis. It occurs against the background of congenital expansion of the alveoli and bronchi, in which sputum stagnates. A cough may produce large amounts of sputum. If sputum is not removed, it causes expansion of pathological cavities, which leads to emphysema.
4. Heart failure. Blood stagnates in the pulmonary circulation, which passes through the lungs, and they become saturated with tissue fluid, the excess of which is released with a cough.
5. Pulmonary tuberculosis. An infection that has become widespread in recent years. The main signs of this disease are a prolonged rise in body temperature above 37.0 degrees, especially at night, and a cough with expectoration of bloody sputum.

conclusions

1. White, frothy sputum produced in moderate quantities (no more than 100 ml per day) is normal. It is produced by the glands of the trachea and large bronchi. The purpose of the secretion is to cleanse the respiratory system from pathogenic microorganisms.
2. If the sputum changes its consistency, color, acquires a specific odor, or contains admixtures of pus and blood, you should immediately contact a medical facility. This may indicate the development of dangerous pathological conditions.

Traditional methods of getting rid of phlegm

Quite often, doctors themselves recommend that patients use folk remedies to eliminate discomfort in the throat. But if in some situations they can be used independently, in others only as an auxiliary therapy. Therefore, before starting to use any folk remedies, you still need to consult an otolaryngologist.

The most effective of them are:

1

A mixture of honey and aloe leaf pulp. To prepare it, mix 1 tsp. honey with a mass obtained by passing 1 aloe leaf through a meat grinder. Half of the finished product is taken in the morning, and the other half at night. 2

Propolis tincture. It can be prepared at home or bought at a pharmacy. The tincture is consumed 1 tsp. three times a day. 3

Gargling with a solution obtained by adding 1 tsp to 1 glass of warm water. a mixture of dry crushed calendula flowers and honey, taken in equal quantities.

Thus, phlegm in the throat can be either a sign of the development of a particular disease or a consequence of addictions or work in hazardous industries. Nevertheless, it is not difficult to get rid of discomfort; the main thing is to contact a specialist in time to find out the true cause of its occurrence and receive competent recommendations on how to eliminate it.

Drug therapy

The main goal of drug therapy for sputum is to stimulate the cough reflex. It is necessary to identify foci of primary accumulation of secretions and eliminate the inflammatory process.

1. “Sinupret.” Produced on the basis of natural plant ingredients. Produces anti-inflammatory, antiviral effect. Prescribed for removing viscous secretions from the throat and nose.
2. “Pinosol.” Antibacterial drug. Removes shortness of breath, nasal and throat congestion, reduces the formation of infection, thins thick sputum.
3. “Ascoril.” Stimulates cough, helps cleanse the bronchi, eliminates the accumulation of mucus of any location.
4. "Tavegil". Eliminates clinical manifestations of allergic reactions.
5. “Renny.” Prescribed to patients with gastroenterological problems. Reduces negative symptoms of reflux esophagitis.