Discharge when coughing. Causes of purulent cough and treatment

A purulent cough worsens with hypothermia, stress, allergies.

You cannot try to cure such a cough with purulent exudate on your own, since only a pulmonologist can determine its causes.

Causes

The reasons for the appearance of pus-containing sputum when coughing are varied:

• pneumonia of various origins;
• abscess, gangrene of the lung (especially if the sputum smells bad);
• purulent bronchitis;
• oncology in the bronchi, lungs;
• bronchiectasis;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• sometimes running flu, SARS, colds;
• bronchial asthma.

A particular disease can be indicated by the color of purulent sputum secreted with coughing or expectoration.

Yellow sputum often indicates influenza with complications, pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchial asthma. Yellow-green color is typical for exacerbations of chronic obstructive bronchitis. But such a shade is also found with the common cold, rhinitis, sinusitis due to the presence of pustules in the respiratory tract.

An admixture of blood in purulent sputum can be a symptom of croupous pneumonia. But damage to small capillaries is also possible when a person coughs with an effort.

An amber tinge of sputum from a cough is sometimes a symptom of an allergy.

Regardless of the cause of a cough with pus-containing sputum, it must be treated immediately.

Treatment

Treatment purulent cough includes reception drugs, physiotherapy procedures, therapeutic (for example, drainage) gymnastics and other means.

Medication for purulent cough should be etiotropic and symptomatic. Depending on the cause, accompanying symptoms and the severity of the cough, the doctor may prescribe:

• other antiviral medications;
• various anti-inflammatory drugs;
• mucolytics for liquefaction and better expectoration of phlegm;
• bronchodilators that improve bronchial patency;
• immunomodulators ("Immunal", "Echinacea");
• homeopathic and tonic remedies;
• complex preparations for cough, which also have antipyretic, regenerating properties, and also reduce the intoxication of the body (for example, "Amizon" is an antiviral and antipyretic agent).

Antibiotics

Antibiotics in the form of tablets, capsules, suspensions, solution for injection, inhalations, powder are usually prescribed selectively, and only in advanced cases a combination of several types of antibiotics is allowed in the treatment of purulent cough.

Antibiotics are taken by mouth or by injection.

The doctor may prescribe the following antibiotics: Trifamox, Amoxiclav, Clindamycin.

An important point in antibiotic treatment: the course of therapy must be completed completely, even if significant improvements are noticed.

Antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs

Antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs include the following list of drugs that can be found in every pharmacy: "Arbidol", "Anaferon", "Aflubin", "Tsitovir". Their action is aimed either at suppressing the vital activity of viruses in the body, or at activating the production of interferon (a protein that attacks virus cells).

Mucolytics

Mucolytics effectively liquefy phlegm and promote its excretion. The following drugs are most popular: Bronchikum, Fluiditek, Ambrobene, Stoptussin, Libeksin, Broncatar, Codelac Fito, Lizomucil, Fluimucil, Mucopront, Sinekod, Herbion ".

Bronchodilators

Among the bronchial dilating agents, the phytopreparation Umkalor is popular, as well as Ambroxol (effective if the sputum is too liquid and needs to be slightly thickened for successful removal), Bromhexin, Berodual, Atrovent, Teotard, Berotek "," Ventolin "," Salbutamol ".

Adjunctive therapy

If a patient with a purulent cough does not have a fever, the doctor may prescribe additional procedures:

• physiotherapy;
• electrophoresis;
• warming compresses;
• Drainage exercises, breathing exercises.

Therapeutic drainage gymnastics or postural drainage is a set of exercises, certain postures that help remove phlegm and pus from respiratory tract through changes in body positions and the effects of gravity. As a result, sputum flows down to the reflexogenic cough zones. To achieve results, gymnastics should be carried out frequently (at least twice a day), for half an hour. A prerequisite for successful therapy is concentration on a prolonged exhalation through pursed lips. Remember to ventilate the exercise room more often.

Traditional medicines

For any kind of wet cough, including a purulent one, an abundant warm drink is shown: with honey, juices, grapes, cranberries, herbal tea made from raspberries, sage, linden blossom, viburnum, plantain.

With a purulent cough, you should try to eat more vegetables, fruits, rich in vitamins.

An effective remedy for a suppurative cough is bear fat, which should be taken internally. Various steam inhalations with essential oils and garlic have a beneficial effect on the patient's condition.

But folk remedies after consultation with a doctor, it can only be used as an adjuvant therapy. They are aimed at relieving the symptoms of a purulent cough and do not cure the underlying cause.

Sputum with bronchitis: its nature and color may indicate the development of possible complications. By the color of the sputum, one can determine the addition of the infectious process and the transformation of the disease into such serious complications as pneumonia or bronchial asthma. In order to confirm the diagnosis, sputum is examined in special laboratories and then appropriate treatment is prescribed.

What complications can arise?

When bronchitis develops, the presence of clear and white discharge is considered normal. It should be understood that the effect of certain factors can affect the amount of mucus secreted, its texture and color:

• With development chronic bronchitis discharge is grayish or white.
• With the development of asthma, the patient is worried about the discharge of yellowish-white thick mucus.
• With tuberculosis, the formation of foamy white sputum is observed.
• If the lungs are swollen or fluid has accumulated in them, the mucus will turn pink or reddish.

The nature of sputum in acute bronchitis: presence transparent secretions colorless and odorless.

In the event that there is no timely treatment, then the color of the discharge may change and the disease becomes chronic. As complications, negative effects on the pulmonary and cardiovascular system can develop.

What does the color of the discharge indicate?

When wet cough there is a discharge of mucus, which is produced in the respiratory tract. Components such as dust, individual particles of decayed cells, and various microorganisms can attach to it. It is these additional substances that determine the quality and color of the discharge.

The color of sputum in bronchitis can change as the disease progresses: from transparent to yellowish, green, red-pink or brown-black.

What is the danger of brown discharge?

The presence of brown mucus indicates the breakdown of red blood cells. Exposure to chemical factors of organic and inorganic nature can also affect this color of the discharge.

Brown color can serve as an alarming signal, indicating the development of diseases such as chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis. To avoid the development of complications, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Yellow phlegm

If the mucus is colored yellow, then this indicates the development of chronic inflammatory processthat can occur with allergic or infectious disease... A yellow discharge is often seen in heavy smokers. In the event that the patient noticed the presence yellow discharge, then it is necessary to undergo examination. As a result, diseases such as sinusitis, acute form bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia.

Why is the sputum colored green?

When sputum is stained green, we can talk about the addition of an infection that does not respond to proper treatment for a long time. The presence of green discharge may indicate the development of complications such as pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, abscess. In the case of an infection, impurities of pus may also be observed. This is an alarming signal that requires immediate hospitalization of the patient. If the green discharge is non-infectious, then a large number of mucous components will be present in them.

What does blood impurity indicate?

Sputum with blood in bronchitis is a very alarming signal, which may indicate the presence of the following complications: pneumonia, tuberculosis or pulmonary embolism. The color of the mucus can vary from pink to orange-rusty. The presence of pink discharge indicates the development of bleeding. When stained in a rusty color, we can say that the process of decay of red blood cells has already begun.

When a pulmonary embolism develops, the sputum will be colored bright red.

What contributes to the early elimination of sputum?

In the event that sputum does not leave, then you should seek the advice of a doctor. You also need to follow these recommendations:

1. Drink plenty of warm liquid: decoctions of rose hips and berries, black tea with lemon, alkaline water and milk with soda. This helps to speed up the elimination of excess mucus and clear the bronchi. Do not allow sputum to "stagnate" - this can provoke an infection and contribute to the development of unwanted complications.
2. It is necessary to ensure that the air in the room where the patient is located is sufficiently humidified. To do this, you can buy a special device - a humidifier or regularly do wet cleaning in the room.
3. Steam inhalation with the addition of medicinal herbs, pharmaceuticals or mineral water has a high therapeutic effect.
4. You can consult with your doctor about the selection of special breathing and gymnastic exercises that speed up the process of removing excess phlegm.

Having received information about the color of sputum with bronchitis and its complications, you should carefully monitor the nature of the discharge. In case of the slightest doubts and concerns about the addition of infections, you should immediately apply for a qualified medical help.

The appearance of abundant sputum when coughing often causes fear in a sick person, and if it becomes pathological, even more so. Pink mucus is a symptom of many diseases that arise from internal bleeding. Its color can be more or less saturated, depending on the degree of blood loss. In some cases, the sputum does not change color, but only contains spots or streaks of blood.

Note! When the clotting processes begin, the mucus loses its pink color and takes on a rusty hue.

The most common causes of pink sputum are:

• Injury of the vessels of the gums and nasopharynx;
• Pneumococcal pneumonia;
• Lung abscess;
• Lungs' cancer;
• Tuberculous lung disease;
• Pulmonary edema.

Pink sputum can be observed with damage to the vessels of the nasopharynx or upper respiratory tract. The fact is that mucus from the lungs is mixed with saliva, and this can frighten a person, since he thinks that it is secreted with blood. In fact, when coughing, air is pushed out of the lungs at high speed, which greatly irritates the inflamed and swollen tissues. As a result of all this, small capillaries of the mucous membranes are damaged and blood is released into saliva. This condition is not life-threatening, so there is no need to worry.

Pneumococcal pneumonia

This pathology most often represents croupous pneumonia or focal bronchopneumonia. In most cases, the so-called community-acquired pneumonia occurs, which is highly virulent. The causative agent of the infection is pneumococcus. One of the main symptoms of the disease is the onset of a cough with a small amount of mucus secreted. It is viscous, slimy and contains an admixture of blood. With the progression of the inflammatory process, the discharge acquires a red-brown color, which on the second day becomes “rusty”.

Additional symptoms that indicate the development of pneumonia are:

Note!Pneumococcal pneumonia is contagious to the people around you. It is characterized by an acute onset and rapid progression of the disease. If symptoms are ignored, pneumonia can lead to serious complications and death.

Lung abscess

It is the formation of 1 or more cavities in an organ with purulent contents inside. Most often, the disease is a complication of pneumonia as a result of the addition of a bacterial infection: staphylococcus, streptococcus.

With an abscess of the lung, sputum depends on the location of the inflammatory process, the prevalence and period of development. It can be mucopurulent, purulent, serous-purulent, or contain blood impurities. In the latter case, the mucus will turn pink.

Additional symptoms indicating the formation of an ailment are:

• High body temperature up to fever;
• Dyspnea;
• Sudden discharge of copious, offensive green phlegm: occurs when an abscess breaks through the bronchus;
• Weakness and loss of strength;
• Headaches.

Lungs' cancer

When a malignant formation appears, sputum is a thick transparent discharge, which is difficult to excrete with a cough. Depending on the degree of damage to the organ by neoplasms, the color of sputum may be different:

• Contain some blood streaks and foam due to edema;
• Have the consistency of a jelly with a pinkish-crimson color: this is due to the decomposition of lung tissue;
• The mucus can contain large clots of scarlet color or pieces of tissue: when the vessels or the bronchial mucosa are involved in the pathological process, they are destroyed with the separation of their particles into sputum;
• Contains pus, acquiring a yellowish or green color: with the addition of various complications.

Additional symptoms that may indicate the development of lung cancer is a characteristic cough. It occurs in response to receptor irritation due to an expanding malignant neoplasm. Cough always accompanies this disease, however, with the progression of the process, it can change. At the onset of the disease, it is dry, prolonged, causes breathing difficulties, and most often appears without any reason. As the tumor develops, viscous sputum forms. Then purulent or bloody impurities appear in the discharge.

Additional Information! The main cause of lung cancer is smoking. The earlier the disease was detected, the more chances the patient has for a favorable outcome.

Tuberculosis

The secreted mucus when coughing depends on the stage of development of the pathology, as well as on the severity of the disease. Pink sputum with tuberculous lesion of the lungs is characteristic of the late stage, and the more advanced the disease, the more impurities in the blood it contains. It is viscous and stringy, the protein content in it is increased. In the initial stages of the disease, the mucus is scanty and its color is yellowish or green due to clots of pus that have appeared in it.

Additional signs that help a specialist to suspect a tuberculous lesion of the lungs are as follows:

• Increase in body temperature for no apparent reason;
• Profuse sweating during sleep;
• Lack of appetite and subsequent weight loss;
• Constant weakness and fatigue;
• Dry cough, predominantly in the morning.

Important!It is believed that tuberculosis is a disease of a disadvantaged and low-income segment of the population. However, in recent years, the number of people infected with this disease of any social status and age has increased.

Pulmonary edema

This disease is a pathological condition in which fluid fills the lungs, which causes disruption of gas exchange. Most common reason the ailment is congestive heart failure. However, there are other diseases that provoke the development of pulmonary edema: heart attack, heart valve damage, hypertensive crisis, pneumonia, and others.

With this pathology, the main symptom is foamy and pink sputum. In addition, the patient is worried about the following signs:

• At the onset of the disease, coughing followed by a cough with pronounced wheezing;
• Severe, excruciating suffocation, worse when lying down;
• The appearance of severe shortness of breath, not associated with physical activity;
• Pressing chest pains;
• Frequent bubbling shallow breathing;
• Gray-bluish color of the skin;
• Swelling of the veins in the neck.

What to do if you have pink sputum

The main thing is not to panic, and even more so to self-medicate! It is necessary to immediately seek medical help from a specialist who will conduct diagnostic manipulations and prescribe additional research methods.

• Complete blood count: depending on the cause of the pink sputum, the results will be characteristic of the disease. So, with an inflammatory disease, there is an increase in leukocytes, ESR, there is a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left. When the number of platelets changes, one can judge about the violation of blood coagulation.
• X-ray of organs chest: a specialist necessarily prescribes a study in two projections. This is necessary to conduct differential diagnosis tuberculosis, pneumonia, abscess and the development of malignant neoplasms.
• Sputum analysis for the determination of mycobacterium tuberculosis, pneumococcus.
• Bronchoscopy: performed to visualize the lumen of the lower airways. Using this method, you can detect neoplasms in them, as well as assess the condition of the walls of the bronchi.
• Electrocardiogram and cardiac echocardiography: used when pulmonary edema is suspected.
• Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging: most often prescribed by a specialist to clarify the preliminary diagnosis made using radiography. This study makes it possible to differentiate tuberculosis, malignant neoplasms, pneumonia and pulmonary edema.

How to get rid of pink phlegm?

After the diagnosis is made, the patient must be admitted to a hospital, where constant monitoring of the patient's condition will be carried out and a set of therapeutic measures will be carried out. What kind of therapy a specialist chooses depends on the cause of pink sputum. So, with the development of the inflammatory process, the doctor prescribes antibacterial and antimicrobial drugs.

If a malignant neoplasm is formed, the doctor's tactics are based on the stage of the cancer. This can be surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

If the cause of pink sputum is pulmonary edema, the specialist uses a set of therapeutic measures to eliminate this life-threatening condition. Then the doctor treats the underlying disease that caused the development of the disease.

Conclusion

The appearance of pink sputum is a sign of a serious pathology that requires immediate and adequate therapy. The reasons why it arose are many. To make the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to examine a specialist using additional research methods.