Yellow sputum when coughing

Often during a disease that is accompanied by a cough, many notice spitting. Can this be considered normal? What should be sputum and are its characteristics so important? For example, yellow sputum when coughing - what does it mean? Let's briefly answer all such questions.

Sputum is a secretion produced in the bronchi and trachea. Such discharge is not always considered a sign of the disease, since the respiratory organs regularly produce a small amount of mucus. This is necessary in order to create an obstacle for penetration into the lungs of foreign particles (for example, dust or chemicals) together with air at the right time. In addition, in the mucus there are special cells that help fight bacteria. Normally, sputum can only be transparent.

Sputum is considered pathological when its characteristics - color, composition, quantity, etc., change. Particular importance is attached to the color of bronchial secretions.

Causes of yellow sputum when coughing

Sputum can be released from various respiratory tract diseases and removed from them during coughing and expectoration. The number of secretions can also be different, from a single occurrence in the initial stage of bronchitis or pneumonia to one and a half liters in purulent pulmonary pathologies.

The degree of expectoration depends on how penetrated the bronchi, as well as on the position of the patient's body (excretions can be amplified in a horizontal position, lying on the healthy side).

Expectoration of discharge in most cases indicates the presence of the disease, especially if the sputum differs in any characteristic color. For example, yellow sputum when coughing can go away with pneumonia, with viral infection and bronchitis, with purulent processes in the lungs (abscess, bronchiectasis).

However, yellow discharge is not always a sign of the disease. For example, it can be a characteristic symptom of a cough in malicious smokers. Sometimes yellow sputum appears due to the use of foods or beverages of yellow color (for example, citrus, carrot juice, etc.).

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Diagnostics

Sputum is the pathological secret of the bronchi and trachea, which is excreted through coughing movements. These discharges are a very important diagnostic material. They are collected in a special container of clear glass: usually it is done in the morning, before eating, after cleaning the teeth and washing the throat.

Also a good material for diagnosis can serve as a liquid after bronchoscopy (flushing of the bronchi).

The study of bronchial secretion can be carried out in several ways. Let's consider each of them separately.

• Macroscopic analysis determines the main characteristics of sputum: volume, hue, odor, density, composition. For example, yellow color is explained by the presence of a purulent component in the secretions, and the more the percentage of pus, the more the yellow color changes toward the greenish one. Yellow-green sputum when coughing - the index of a purulent process in the respiratory system. Sometimes pus is present even in the form of clots or lumps.
• Microscopic analysis of sputum is carried out with staining of the preparation and without staining. In the secretions, cells of flat and cylindrical epithelium, macrophages, siderophages, conyophages, atypical cells, blood cells can be detected. In some cases, a number of fibrous formations (elastic, fibrous fibers, Kurshman spirals), as well as Charcot-Leiden crystals, cholesterol, fatty acids can be detected.
• Bacteriological seeding on nutrient media - helps identify the causative agent of the disease, assess its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.

In rare cases, additional types of diagnostics can be prescribed, such as luminescence microscopy, flotation and electrophoresis (as a means of accumulating microorganisms).

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Treatment of yellow sputum when coughing

To effectively treat yellow sputum during cough, the following points should be considered:

• treatment is prescribed only after determining the cause of the disease;
• medicines and doses can be prescribed only on an individual basis, taking into account the underlying disease, accompanying pathologies, the patient's response to medications.

If there are excrements during coughing, it is recommended to take a large amount of liquid, mainly in the form of warm tea or infusions of herbs. Use herbs with expectorant, anti-inflammatory, enveloping action - it's sage, chamomile, St. John's wort, marshmallow, etc.

In the absence of contraindications, inhalations with sodium hydrogencarbonate, essential oils are carried out.

The following medicines are shown:

• means with expectorant action, which reduce the concentration of bronchial secretions and facilitate its excretion (ammonium chloride, thermopsis);
• means with mukoreguliruyuschim action (carbocysteine, ambroksol) - promote the expulsion of sputum from the bronchi, help antibacterial drugs get into the bronchi;
• mucolytics (ATSTS) - normalize the cough secretion from the bronchi;
• antihistamines (for allergic etiology of coughing).

Antibiotics are taken only if necessary, and only after an accurate diagnosis of the cause of cough.

Prevention

Prevention of yellow sputum during coughing is determined by the prevention of complications of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. What needs to be considered in order to prevent the development of purulent processes in the lungs?

It must be remembered that the inflammatory process in the bronchi most often occurs as a result of incorrect or insufficient treatment of acute respiratory disease or ARVI. Therefore, a cold or flu should be treated, rather than expecting that the disease "will pass" on its own.

Regardless of the presence of respiratory system diseases, the following rules can be adhered to as a preventive measure:

• smoking is harmful, even if you are not smoking, but someone is nearby. Inhalation of nicotine increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis or emphysema;
• In the period of epidemics of cold and viral diseases, it is necessary to avoid crowded public places;
• it sometimes makes sense to get vaccinated against influenza or pneumonia, especially if you have low immunity or a tendency to respiratory diseases;
• do not forget about personal hygiene, wash your hands after coming from the street, and before each meal;
• include in the diet more fresh fruits and vegetables. It is useful to drink infusions and fruit drinks from berries, dog rose, citrus, mint;
• Eat fully, because in the cold season it is highly not recommended to adhere to "strict" and even more "hungry" diets, as this significantly weakens immunity;
• dress on the weather, do not allow the body to overcool and overheat.

When you have a cough, it's best to postpone all the cases for a while and go to the doctor: timely treatment is often the best prevention of complications and undesirable consequences.

Forecast

Often a wet cough seems to us an ordinary and non-serious disease, however, this is not the case, especially since yellow sputum when coughing is not a harmless symptom. If you ignore the disease, then without the necessary treatment, serious health consequences can arise. Inadequately cured cough with ARD or ARVI, as well as with acute bronchitis or tracheitis may contribute to the development of pneumonia. Inflammation of the lungs is quite a dangerous and insidious disease, which requires compulsory treatment in the hospital with the use of antibacterial potent drugs.

The acute form of bronchitis, which many prefer to carry "on their feet," without adequate therapy can get a chronic course. The chronic form of bronchitis may require long and difficult treatment. Improper treatment of chronic inflammation of the bronchi can serve as a factor in the development of abscess, bronchial asthma or pneumonia.

Yellow sputum when coughing is more than sufficient reason to call a doctor. Purulent processes in the airways can not be triggered in any way, otherwise the consequences can be unpredictable.

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