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What Causes Severe Productive Cough?

Posted on Fri, 2 May 2014

Question: I am coughing a lot and spiting up a lot of phlegm, and not sure what's going on.

Answered by Dr. Vidya KR (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Acute exacerbation of asthma or infection Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for using HCM. I went through your query and understood your concerns. Coughing is a reflex mechanism to clear airways. I need few more details about your symptom to help you in a better way. Since how many days you have this ? is it sudden in onset? phlegm is it yellow or whitis frothy? Any history of fever? Is it started after eating some thing? Associated wit wheezing? With history of asthma, I can think of 2 possibilities , one sudden exacerbation of asthma or lower respiratory tract infection. We can differentiate using detailed history and examination. Management in both cases differs. You can try steam inhalation and warm salt water gargle at your home for some relief and contact your doctor for examination. Hope I answered your query. Feel free to ask further related query. Wish you a speedy recovery. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Vidya KR (2 hours later)

I've had this for at least a couple months. I don't believe it is was onset, I think it came gradual. As far as color, sometimes it is clear ,sometimes it is greenish in color. I usually don't run any fever, unless I am really sick. But I don't remember any fever. No, not associated with wheezing, cause I wheeze all the time. I am wondering if this could be COPD related? I use to smoke when I was in my early 20's, but I quit when I was 27 or 28 yrs. old.

Answered by Dr. Vidya KR (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Not well controlled asthma. Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for follow up query. Your description of symptoms suggests uncontrolled asthma. You need proper assessment of your state of asthma and appropriate treatment. Clear sputum suggests due to allergic response, seen in asthma. Greenish sputum in between could be due to bacterial infection - which may or may not associated with fever. Asthma and COPD may present in same individual; only clinical examination and tests can tell us the difference. In short, since its persistent for months, I recommend that you see a doctor. Do not ignore it. It doesn't seem to be very concerning for now, but not to be left alone. Hope I answered your query. Feel free to ask further related query. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad