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What Causes Coughing Up Of Greenish Mucus?
Question: Hi my name is XXXXXXX I have had a really bad cold for about 10 days now. I'm starting to feel better with the exception of still having a lot of green mucus that I can am blowing out my nose or coughing it up and my ears are very stopped up. They feel very full with a lot of pressure and they ache. Like my ears ears need to pop but they won't. Do you think it is an ear infection and should I see a doctor?
Brief Answer:
ENT Specialist, ETD, PTA. I/A. Anti-alllergic mucolytic, decongestants.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The green mucus means that you are in the post viral or early bacterial phase of the severe cold. The colour usually represents white blood cells (allergic or infection related) or bacterial/fungal products.
2. You need to get your ears examined by an ENT Specialist. Thus will help check if the ear drums are normal or if there is any sign of the thick mucus causing Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and filling the middle ear. The thick mucus may lead to blockage of the Eustachian tube that connects the ear to the nose and helps equalize the middle ear air pressure. This causes the fullness in the ears, the pressure and earache. There are also tests to check the hearing (PTA- Pure Tone Audiogram) and for the presence of fluid (Impedance Audiogram/ Tympanogram or I/A).
3. The decision to use any antibiotics will depend on the findings. With infections there will be congestion, redness, increasing pain, fever. An anti-allergic mucolytic medication, steam inhalation and local OTC nasal decongestion drops (such as 0.1% Xylometazoline- for short term use only) will help reduce the ear fullness, pressure, earache and allow you to pop the ears (by relieving ETD). Your doctor may also want to rule out any sinusitis as the source of the large quantity of green mucus. The mucus can be cultured to check for infection.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
ENT Specialist, ETD, PTA. I/A. Anti-alllergic mucolytic, decongestants.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The green mucus means that you are in the post viral or early bacterial phase of the severe cold. The colour usually represents white blood cells (allergic or infection related) or bacterial/fungal products.
2. You need to get your ears examined by an ENT Specialist. Thus will help check if the ear drums are normal or if there is any sign of the thick mucus causing Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and filling the middle ear. The thick mucus may lead to blockage of the Eustachian tube that connects the ear to the nose and helps equalize the middle ear air pressure. This causes the fullness in the ears, the pressure and earache. There are also tests to check the hearing (PTA- Pure Tone Audiogram) and for the presence of fluid (Impedance Audiogram/ Tympanogram or I/A).
3. The decision to use any antibiotics will depend on the findings. With infections there will be congestion, redness, increasing pain, fever. An anti-allergic mucolytic medication, steam inhalation and local OTC nasal decongestion drops (such as 0.1% Xylometazoline- for short term use only) will help reduce the ear fullness, pressure, earache and allow you to pop the ears (by relieving ETD). Your doctor may also want to rule out any sinusitis as the source of the large quantity of green mucus. The mucus can be cultured to check for infection.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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