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Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi). In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for a naked eye examination, microbiological investigation of respiratory infections and cytological investigations of respiratory systems.
Phlegm is a thick secretion in the airway during disease and inflammation. Phlegm usually contains mucus with virus, bacteria, other debris, and sloughed-off inflammatory cells. Once phlegm has been expectorated by a cough, it becomes sputum. [2]
“A productive cough is a cough that produces phlegm,” Dr. Youssef says. But a non-productive cough is more dry, says John M. Coleman III, ... or you’re coughing up blood, Dr. Ascher says it ...
In contrast, expectorants lubricate your airway, which helps loosen up the mucus and make the secretions in your airway thinner. By loosening up the mucus, expectorants make your cough more ...
Normal mucus often looks clear or white for most people, experts say. But mucus changes color, depending on the individual’s environment, in response to various germs and more, he adds ...
Other symptoms include coughing up mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest discomfort. [2] The infection may last from a few to ten days. [2] The cough may persist for several weeks afterward with the total duration of symptoms usually around three weeks. [2] [1] Some have symptoms for up to six weeks. [3]
The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. Symptoms include coughing up sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. [1] Acute bronchitis usually has a cough that lasts around three weeks, [4] and is also known as a chest cold. [5] In more than 90% of cases, the cause is a viral infection ...
A cough that shows up after COVID typically goes away within four weeks, says Dr. Leykum. And it can last as long as six months after the infection, according to the American Lung Association .