Phlegm is a substance that collects in copious amounts in the windpipe or trachea of a person due to the blockage of the respiratory passage. These linings are irritated leading to repeated coughs in order to expel the mucus. Phlegm can vary in consistency from watery to jelly-like and can be of various colors, white, yellow, pink, brown, red and green. Find out about mucus color and meaning.
Coughing up phlegm is actually a good sign because the foreign substances like dust, bacteria etc is stuck to the mucus and comes out of the system through the coughing action. This is actually our body’s natural defense to remove harmful bacteria.
Coughing up green phlegm means that there can be pus inside the respiratory passage. This can be due to bacteria being present in the brochi or lungs. Green phlegm is an indication of respiratory diseases like acute bacterial bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis or cystic fibrosis.
Coughing Up Green Phlegm and Sore Throat
Sore throat, a viral infection or an allergy that affects our nose, throat and tonsils is characterized by dry cough and pale colored mucus. But when there is a case of coughing up green mucus and sore throat, it can be caused by strep bacteria. Due to strep bacteria which cause throat infection or inflammation of the tonsils, there can be lot of pus accumulated in the throat which can give rise to green mucus in the cough. A person who has sore throat may also develop swollen lymph nodes and high fever at 101°F
Coughing Up Green Phlegm in Morning
Coughing up green phlegm in the morning is more evident in children, though it can happen to anyone. Common cold virus is a culprit here, the mucus is developed due to virus. This mostly happen in the morning because the immune system is weak when the person has just got up from sleep. So, if there is dry cough, sore throat and thick mucus, it can be mostly due to common cold virus. It can be treated by anti-viral mediations and not antibiotics because it is not a bacterial infection. So, please take the patient to the doctor when there are symptom of dry cough and sore throat, so that it does not develop into complications like coughing up green mucus.
Coughing Up Green Phlegm with blood
Coughing up green phlegm and blood is even more complicated than merely coughing up green mucus. Blood in mucus can be due to many reasons like inflammation and bleeding in the nose, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (wind pipe), stomach or lungs. So, if this is the case, one should seek urgent medical attention. The reasons for coughing up green mucus and blood can vary from something as light as a little scratch in the throat or nose to major health issue like lung cancer. Some of the causes of green phlegm with blood is known to be tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, bacterial pneumonia, dry cough and smoking. Also, it can be due to eating red colored diet like beetroot, red wine, candies etc. If the patient is coughing up green mucus along with pink color tinge, it may mean that the mucus has high amount of eosinophils and that he is asthmatic But the best thing to do in this case is to seek immediate medical attention. Read more about coughing up blood.
