Sputum meaning

This gunk is your body’s defense weapon against infectious microbes and allergens that irritate your Brown phlegm is less common. Here are some reasons why you might get it. It can be a sign of old COPD Treatments for Acute Bronchitis This is when the linings of your bronchial tubes, the air passageways in your lungs, get inflamed. If you have it, you’ll first notice a cough. It could be dry or bring up phlegm. The mucus can range from clear to cloudy, brown, yellow, or green. Your chest might feel tight or tender. Other signs are a Bronchitis usually goes away on its own. Your doctor might suggest ways to thin out your mucus to make it easy to cough up. You can run a vaporizer, stand in a hot shower, or hover over a steam tent over hot Bacterial Pneumonia A dry cough that brings up thick Chronic Lung Disease This term includes a wide range of lung disorders that don’t go away or worsen over time. They can be hereditary, be triggered by things in the environment, or start with a habit like smoking. Two forms of chronic CF is a lifelong condition. Treatment includes techniques to keep the airways clear and break up mucus, Since bronchiectasis is a long-term condition, you may need to stay on inhalers and other drugs to lower your swelling. Antibiotics and Fungus Allergy Aspergillus is a fungus that’s widely found in soil, plants, and rotting vegetation. If you’re allergic and breathe it in, it can inflame your lungs. You might wheeze and cough up brown-flecked mucus. You mi...

Mucus forms a protective coating to keep irritants and germs away from the delicate and sensitive tissues of your airways. Our nose and sinuses produce an average of about a The airways of the throat and lungs also produce mucus. And the body makes even more mucus when we’re reacting to an If you’re coughing up mucus, it’s an indication that you have an irritation or possible Solid white mucus When you cough up thick, solid white mucus, it might be a signal that you have a bacterial infection in your airways. This type of an infection could require prescription antibiotics from your doctor. Foamy white mucus Mucus that contains bubbles and is foamy is commonly referred to as frothy sputum. Frothy sputum can sometimes be a sign of: • • • • If you’re coughing up frothy sputum, review this and other symptoms with your doctor. Looking at the color of the mucus you’re coughing up isn’t an effective diagnostic tool on its own. The most effective way of identifying bacterial infections is by testing a sample of the sputum in a laboratory. But mucus color can play a role in determining what’s going on in your respiratory system. A • Clear phlegm tested positive for bacteria capable of causing infection in 18 out of every 100 samples. • Yellow sputum contained bacteria capable of causing infection in 46 out of every 100 samples. • Green sputum contained bacteria capable of causing infection in 59 out of every 100 samples. Clear mucus If you’re coughing up light-colored or clear muc...

It is not unusual to cough up phlegm with a common cold. However, it can also be a sign of a different, sometimes serious, underlying condition such as stomach acid reflux, lung disease, or heart disease. This article discusses the possible causes of coughing up phlegm and how to treat them. It also explains what different colors of phlegm might indicate and when a person should contact a doctor. Share on Pinterest Illustration by Jason Hoffman. Cough and excess mucus production are • • • Lower respiratory tract infections, which include Other possible causes of coughing up phlegm include: Acid reflux Acid reflux, also known as Other symptoms include: • • sore throat • • oral hygiene issues Approximately LPR can occur due to dysfunction in the lower esophageal sphincter, esophagus, and upper esophageal sphincter. This • • frequent throat clearing • a cough • • excess mucus Allergies • • sneezing • runny nose Some people with allergies may also develop a postnasal drip, which occurs due to excess mucus production that leaks down the throat. This can cause a person to cough up phlegm. Environmental factors Exposure to certain irritants, such as smoke and other fumes, Lung disease Some Other symptoms of lung disease include: • • wheezing • • Heart failure • difficulty breathing • • chronic cough • wheezing • production of white or pink phlegm • swelling of the ankles, legs, feet, and abdomen • • disorientation and • It is Lung cancer is a less common cause of coughing up phle...

What is a sputum Gram’s stain? A sputum Gram’s stain is a laboratory test that allows your doctor to diagnose a bacterial infection in your respiratory tract. They may order it if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection that might be caused by bacteria. It’s the most common preliminary test beyond a chest X-ray for pneumonia and other respiratory infections, and can help your doctor promptly prescribe a treatment plan. The test is sometimes called a Gram’s stain of sputum. It’s named after its inventor, Hans Christian Gram. Your doctor may order a sputum Gram’s stain to help identify the cause of pneumonia. This is an infection that can affect your lower respiratory tract. It’s often caused by microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The symptoms of pneumonia can range from moderate to life-threatening, and include: • wheezing • shortness of breath • rapid breathing • chest pain • cough • fever • chills • fatigue • headache • muscle aches • nausea and vomiting • sputum that’s colored or has an odor • confusion • respiratory failure • shock (severely low blood pressure) Children under the age of 5, older adults over the age of 65, and people with a weak immune system are at heightened risk of developing pneumonia. To complete a sputum Gram’s stain, your doctor will need to a collect a sample of your sputum and send it to a laboratory for testing. Sputum is a mixture of saliva and mucus that you cough up from your respiratory tract. It’s usually colored and thi...

Phlegm—also called sputum—is a slimy, slippery substance that can be found in your throat and lungs. It is a little bit thicker than the mucus that is in your nose and sinuses. Usually phlegm is clear or white and you don’t notice it.. When you get sick, a more-than-normal amount of phlegm can build up in your nose, throat, and lungs and cause discomfort and coughing. Phlegm has an important role to play in keeping your respiratory system healthy, as it helps to trap bacteria and other harmful particles so they don't enter your body. It consists mostly of water but also contains sugars, molecules, and proteins to help catch bacteria. Phlegm also acts as a lubricant to keep tissues from drying out. So while phlegm may seem gross and unpleasant tasting, it's an essential part of your body's natural defense system. • Allergens, such as dust, pollen, and animal dander • Viruses, such as the • Bacteria, which can cause illnesses such as a sinus infection, bacterial pneumonia, or • Being outside in the cold or eating spicy food (can temporarily cause increased watery nasal leakage) • Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as • Other lung-related diseases, such as cystic fibrosis What Does Phlegm Look Like? Did you know that the color of our phlegm can tell us if something may be amiss with our health? Phlegm is a health indicator that can help differentiate between a minor illness and something more serious. It is essential to clarify that phlegm is not the same thing as saliva or ...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Nasal mucus serves as a potent barrier around areas of your body that are ripe for infection. “The inside of your nose, as well as your upper air digestive tract in the head and neck area, are very moist environments,” says ear, nose and throat specialist In your nose especially, snot is your first line of defense in terms of preventing infections and fending off unwelcome things that might want to enter your body. “It traps particles and organisms, so the bacteria or debris that we breathe in doesn’t go directly into our lungs,” Dr. Sindwani says. However, the color of this snot can tell you a lot about what’s going on inside your nasal passages — and although doctors rarely use nasal mucus as the primary diagnosis of disease, it can shed light on other conditions.Dr. Sindwani shares what the various shades of snot could mean for your health. What does snot color say about your health? Snot color can tell you many things, including whether you have changingsnot color is almost a bigger indicator that something is up with your health. “If your snot is changing color, you need to see what else is going on,” Dr. Sindwani says. “It’s the idea that you were doing fine, nothing was bothering youand then something changed. You’ll want to look more holistically at what else might have changed. Are you feeling unw...

Recent Examples on the Web The symptoms measured included cough, wheezing, sputum production, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 31 May 2023 Phlegm discharged by coughing or spitting is called sputum. — Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2020 These symptoms include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, decreased appetite, diminished sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle/joint aches, nausea, rash, rigors, runny nose, sore throat or sputum production. — Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Aug. 2020 Included in their rather diverse diet is their consumption of human detritus such as feces, sputum, toe nails, and bodily residue on surgical swabs. — Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2012 Collection and analysis of their sputum did yield, however, the parasitic eggs that provided an end to the mystery. — Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2014 In the current outbreak, which began in May 2022, investigators have isolated the outbreak strain from 13 sputum or bronchial washes, 11 cornea swabs, seven urine samples, two blood samples, 25 rectal swabs, and four other nonsterile sources. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2023 Frothy pink sputum accompanied by shortness of breath is a sign of pulmonary edema; blood and fluid leak from the alveoli into the lungs. — Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2020 The smell of purulent sputum incubating deep within a lung may waft it...

Based on the clinical condition of the patient, the physician determines what group of microorganism is likely to be causing the infection, and then orders one or more specific types of cultures: bacterial, viral, or fungal (for yeast and molds). For all culture types, the sputum must be collected into a sterile container. The sputum specimen must be collected carefully, so that bacteria that normally live in the mouth and saliva don't contaminate the sputum and complicate the process of identifying the cause of the infectious agent. Once in the laboratory, each culture type is handled differently. Bacterial culture A Gram stain is done by staining the slide with purple and red stains, then examining it under a microscope. Gram staining checks that the specimen does not contain saliva or material from the mouth. If many epithelial (skin) cells and few white blood cells are seen, the specimen is not pure sputum and is not adequate for culture. Depending on laboratory policy, the specimen may be rejected and a new specimen requested. If many white blood cells and bacteria of one type are seen, this is an early confirmation of infection. The color of stain picked up by the bacteria (purple or red), their shape (such as round or rectangular), and their size provide valuable clues as to their identity and helps the physician predict what antibiotics might work best before the entire test is completed. Bacteria that stain purple are called gram-positive; those that stain red are...

A cough that produces mucus, or phlegm, is known as a wet — or productive — cough. This is typically a response to allergens and irritants, airway infections, or an underlying condition. This article will outline some conditions that can cause a productive cough, along with their associated symptoms and treatment options. It will also list some home remedies that people can incorporate into their treatment plan to help alleviate a productive cough. Share on Pinterest A person with a productive cough may find mucus in their tissue. Coughing is either productive or nonproductive. A In most cases, coughing is an automatic reflex that helps clear the airways of mucus or irritants. Most coughs clear up Below are some health conditions that can cause a productive cough. The common cold and the flu share a number of common symptoms, including: • a productive or nonproductive cough • chest discomfort • • a • • • • The flu may cause some • • • Diagnosis A doctor In order to diagnose the flu, they may take a swab from the person’s nose. Treatment Symptoms of the common cold typically clear up within • pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and • • cough suppressants Doctors may prescribe antiviral therapy for the flu. Antiviral therapy is more effective if people begin taking it The symptoms of bronchitis include: • a cough that produces clear, white, or yellow mucus • • • sore throat • a runny nose • fever • • viruses • • The symptoms of pneumonia may include: • a nonproductive coug...