Yellow sputum with a cough.

Often, during an illness that is accompanied by a cough, many people notice the release of sputum. Can this be considered normal? What should sputum be like and are its characteristics so important? For example, yellow sputum when coughing - what does this mean? Let's try to briefly answer all such questions.

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

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

Causes of yellow sputum when coughing

Sputum can be secreted in various respiratory diseases and removed from them during coughing and expectoration. The amount of secretions can also vary, from a single appearance 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 passable the bronchi are, as well as on the patient’s body position (discharge may increase in a horizontal position, lying on the healthy side).

Coughing up secretions in most cases indicates the presence of a disease, especially if the sputum has a characteristic color. For example, yellow sputum when coughing can be due to pneumonia, viral infection and bronchitis, and purulent processes in the lungs (abscess, bronchiectasis).

However, yellow discharge is not always a sign of illness. For example, it can be a characteristic symptom of cough in heavy smokers. Sometimes yellow sputum appears as a result of consuming yellow foods or drinks (for example, citrus fruits, carrot juice, etc.).

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Diagnostics

Sputum is a pathological secretion of the bronchi and trachea, which is removed through coughing movements. These secretions are very important diagnostic material. They are collected in a special container made of transparent glass: this is usually done in the morning, before meals, after brushing teeth and rinsing the throat.

Fluid from bronchoscopy (bronchial lavage) can also serve as good diagnostic material.

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

• Macroscopic analysis determines the main characteristics of sputum: volume, shade, smell, density, composition. For example, yellow color is explained by the presence of a purulent component in the discharge, and the higher the percentage of pus, the more the yellow color changes towards greenish. Yellow-green sputum when coughing is an indicator 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 and without staining of the preparation. In secretions, one can detect cells of flat and cylindrical epithelium, macrophages, siderophages, coniophages, atypical cells, blood cells. In some cases, one can detect a number of fibrous formations (elastic, fibrous fibers, Curschmann spirals), as well as Charcot-Leyden crystals, cholesterol, fatty acids.
• Bacteriological culture on nutrient media helps to identify the pathogen and assess its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.

In rare cases, additional diagnostic methods may be prescribed, such as fluorescent microscopy, flotation, and electrophoresis (as methods for accumulating microorganisms).

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Treatment for yellow sputum when coughing

To effectively treat yellow sputum when coughing, you need to consider the following points:

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

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

In the absence of contraindications, inhalations are performed with sodium bicarbonate and essential oils.

The following medications are indicated:

• expectorant agents that reduce the concentration of bronchial secretions and facilitate their removal (ammonium chloride, thermopsis);
• agents with mucoregulatory action (carbocysteine, ambroxol) - promote the expulsion of phlegm from the bronchi, help antibacterial drugs get into the bronchi;
• mucolytics (ACC) – normalize the expectoration of secretions from the bronchi;
• antihistamines (for allergic etiology of cough).

Antibiotics are taken only when necessary, and only after an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the cough has been made.

Prevention

Prevention of yellow sputum when coughing is determined by preventing complications of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. What should be taken into account to prevent the development of purulent processes in the lungs?

It is important to remember that inflammation in the bronchi most often occurs as a result of incorrect or insufficient treatment of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections. Therefore, a cold or flu should be treated, and not expected to "go away" on its own.

Regardless of the presence of respiratory diseases, the following rules can be followed as a preventative measure:

• Smoking is harmful, even if it is not you who smokes, but someone else nearby. Inhaling nicotine increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis or emphysema;
• during epidemics of colds and viral diseases, it is necessary to avoid crowded public places;
• Sometimes it makes sense to get vaccinated against flu or pneumonia, especially if you have a weakened immune system or are prone to respiratory diseases;
• do not forget about personal hygiene, wash your hands after coming from outside, and also before each meal;
• Include more fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. It is useful to drink infusions and fruit drinks from berries, rose hips, citrus fruits, and mint;
• eat well, because in the cold season it is highly not recommended to stick to “strict” and especially “hunger” diets, as this significantly weakens the immune system;
• Dress according to the weather, avoid hypothermia and overheating.

When a cough appears, it is better to put everything aside for a while and consult a doctor: timely treatment is often the best prevention of complications and undesirable consequences.

Forecast

Often a wet cough seems to us to be a common and not serious disease, however, this is not so, especially since yellow sputum when coughing is not a harmless symptom at all. If you ignore the disease, then without the necessary treatment, quite serious health consequences may arise. Insufficiently treated cough during ARI or ARVI, as well as acute bronchitis or tracheitis can contribute to the development of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a rather dangerous and insidious disease that requires mandatory treatment in a hospital using potent antibacterial drugs.

Acute bronchitis, which many people prefer to endure "on their feet", can become chronic without appropriate therapy. Chronic bronchitis may require long-term and difficult treatment. Incorrect treatment of chronic bronchitis can be a factor in the development of an abscess, bronchial asthma or pneumonia.

Yellow sputum when coughing is more than enough reason to see a doctor. Purulent processes in the respiratory tract should not be started under any circumstances, otherwise the consequences may be unpredictable.

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