Causes of mucous sputum
Chronic rhinitis
Cough with mucous sputum during rhinitis is caused by irritation of the back wall of the pharynx by flowing mucus. The patient experiences soreness and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, to eliminate which a cough reflex occurs. Expectoration of a small amount of clear discharge occurs in the morning after sleep, as well as during prolonged periods of lying down. After coughing up mucous sputum, the discomfort disappears.
Pharyngitis
For inflammation of the pharynx, a dry cough is typical, but sometimes it turns into a wet cough with the release of mucous sputum. Pharyngitis is manifested by expectoration of a small amount of clear mucus that does not have an unpleasant odor. The symptom persists for 3-5 days, combined with a constant sore throat. An attack of coughing with expectoration of sputum begins without visible provoking factors, but can intensify with loud speech or inhalation of cold air.
Chronic hyperplastic laryngitis
This pathology is characterized by the release of a scant amount of mucous sputum in the morning, accompanied by a sore throat and coughing. The symptom bothers a person for 3 weeks or more. For laryngitis, a constant sensation of a foreign body and discomfort in the throat is pathognomonic. An attempt to cough results in the appearance of a small amount of mucus, usually without bringing relief.
Tracheitis
The disease manifests itself with the release of clear mucus after a paroxysmal painful cough. Gradually, the volume of mucous sputum increases and it becomes cloudy. If tracheitis develops against the background of a bacterial infection, purulent streaks appear in the mucous secretion. Patients complain of frequent cough paroxysms that occur when laughing, talking loudly, or taking deep breaths.
Bronchitis
Coughing up medium or large amounts of mucous sputum is a typical sign of bronchial catarrh. In an acute process, a constant cough and the discharge of clear or cloudy mucus without an odor are disturbing. Symptoms last 1-3 weeks. In chronic bronchitis, expectoration of mucous discharge lasts several weeks or even months. Coughing up mucous sputum in the morning is typical of smoker's bronchitis.
Mucous sputum
Atypical pneumonia
Expectoration of large amounts of mucus occurs with pneumonia of viral or mycoplasmal etiology. Sputum production begins 2-4 days after the onset of the disease. The mucus is clear, without pathological inclusions, sometimes it is viscous and difficult to cough up. The symptom is supplemented by febrile fever and chest pain. If coughing and expectoration of mucous sputum lasts more than 3 months, prolonged pneumonia is diagnosed.
Whooping cough
A cough with expectoration of mucous sputum is characteristic of the period of resolution of the infectious process. At this time, cough paroxysms become rare and less durable; after an attack, the child spits out clear mucus in small quantities. Given the severity of whooping cough, symptoms last from several days to several months. Gradually, the amount of secreted mucous sputum decreases.
Pulmonary edema
The release of clear sputum when coughing is observed at the stage of alveolar edema, when fluid enters the lungs from the blood vessels. The condition develops suddenly, the patient experiences difficulty breathing and tries unsuccessfully to clear his throat. The amount of mucus secreted increases. In severe cases, instead of mucous sputum, pink foam appears when breathing and coughing, indicating the entry of red blood cells from the blood into the alveoli.
Lung adenocarcinoma
In the initial stages of the disease, a person is bothered by periodic coughing, accompanied by the release of liquid transparent mucus. As a malignant tumor progresses, a large amount (up to 1-2 liters per day) of watery sputum is formed in the lungs and bronchi, which the patient is forced to constantly cough up to make breathing easier. If adenocarcinoma grows into surrounding tissue, the mucus is replaced by bloody sputum.
Foreign body of the bronchus
If the foreign object is small, breathing is preserved. The patient is bothered by a periodic cough, during which clear liquid mucus is coughed up. Symptoms are observed until the foreign body is removed. If this does not happen, inflammation develops in the bronchus with an increase in the amount of mucous sputum secreted, which over time becomes more cloudy and viscous.
Why might blood appear in snot?
A small amount of blood in the snot is very frightening for patients. Most often, it is not anything serious and can appear due to the following reasons:
- frequent use of vasoconstrictor drops for a runny nose causes increased fragility of blood vessels, which is why snot appears in the throat with blood;
- Some types of cold viruses make the vascular wall weak and small vessels easily rupture;
- a person blows his nose and coughs up this mucus so hard that small blood vessels break due to excessive effort;
- taking certain medications (anticoagulants) thins the blood and increases the risk of nosebleeds;
- the patient likes to pick his nose with his finger and other objects to remove crusts, and at the same time injures the blood vessels.
If streaks of blood appear in the discharge, then do not immediately panic. The danger comes from massive bleeding from the nasopharynx, which a person cannot stop on his own.
If you notice blood in the mucus, you need to bring this to the attention of your doctor so as not to miss a serious illness.
Diagnostics
The initial examination of a patient with complaints of mucous sputum is often performed by a general practitioner, who, if necessary, gives a referral to an otolaryngologist or pulmonologist. To make a preliminary diagnosis, it is enough to collect complaints, auscultate the lungs, and visually examine the tonsils and pharynx. The plan for clarifying diagnostic studies includes the following methods:
- ENT examination.
With direct and indirect laryngoscopy, the doctor assesses the condition of the laryngeal mucosa, identifies signs of inflammation and hypertrophy. Using a fibrolaryngoscope, a biopsy of atypical areas is performed. If a chronic runny nose is suspected, anterior and posterior rhinoscopy provides valuable information. - X-ray of the OGK.
Carrying out an x-ray in two projections allows us to identify changes typical of inflammatory or tumor processes of the bronchopulmonary system. To clarify the diagnosis, targeted studies are prescribed: fluoroscopy and MRI of the chest organs. - Endoscopic diagnostics.
During bronchoscopy, the mucous membrane of large and medium-caliber bronchi is visualized. The method is used to diagnose chronic bronchitis, neoplasia, fibrotic changes. Using endoscopy, biopsies for histological examination and bronchial lavage water are taken. - Sputum analysis.
Culture of bronchial mucus is necessary to identify viral or atypical bacterial infections. When microscopy of mucous sputum, attention is paid to pathognomonic crystals and spiral-shaped accumulations of mucus. To exclude tuberculosis, microscopy of the material after special staining is required.
Among laboratory methods, a general blood test is informative, allowing one to differentiate inflammatory and other pathologies of the respiratory system. In a biochemical study, acute-phase indicators are studied. Serological tests aimed at searching for antibodies to pathogenic microorganisms are recommended. To measure the function of external respiration and diagnose chronic diseases, spirometry and peak flowmetry are indicated.
Sputum analysis
Foamy and viscous cough
When passing through the respiratory tract, sputum may become slightly foamy.
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.
Treatment
Help before diagnosis
In case of acute inflammatory damage to the respiratory system, unimpeded discharge of mucous sputum should be ensured. To improve the drainage function of the bronchial tree, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm drinks and maintain optimal air humidity in the room. All drug treatments can only be used after a visit to a doctor.
Conservative therapy
Mucous sputum as a symptom does not require special treatment, since it disappears after affecting the underlying disease. In cases where there is too much mucus and its expectoration is difficult, postural drainage techniques are recommended, and medications with mucolytic and secretomotor effects are prescribed. Physiotherapy methods are effective - alkaline and oil inhalations, UHF and electrophoresis on the anterior surface of the chest.
To influence the root causes of the discharge of mucous sputum, antiviral and antiallergic drugs are used. Antibiotics are not indicated; they are used only when the bronchial discharge is mucopurulent. Anti-inflammatory medications speed up recovery and relieve subjective symptoms. For chronic bronchitis, therapeutic bronchoscopy is performed for lavage and targeted administration of medications.
Video
This video talks about the reasons for the appearance of mucus in the nasopharynx.
If you have already discovered an addiction, then you need to contact a pediatric ENT doctor about this problem. There can be many reasons for the formation of mucus in the nasopharynx in both adults and children. It is very important to recognize and eliminate them in time. Look after your health and carry out preventive measures during the period, then you will not be afraid of any permanent diseases, let alone complications. What is chronic bronchitis code according to ICD-10 can be read at the following link.
conclusions
- 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.
- 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.
