Green Phlegm When Coughing – What Does It Mean?

What happens when green phlegm appears along with my cough ? Is it always an infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics?

This body fluid is secreted by the mucosa of the respiratory tract of mammals and, according to bibliographic sources, its function is to keep the area moist. In addition, phlegm stops and facilitates the expulsion of foreign bodies from the body.

Since it also contains lysozymes (antibacterial substances) and antibodies, we can say that it has antimicrobial properties.

Strange as it may seem, the color of the phlegm can reveal the nature of the patient’s disease. In this article, we’ll explain what this means, and especially what green phlegm indicates. We will also explain what steps to take.

Different colors of phlegm

As unpleasant as it may seem, understanding where the color of phlegm comes from and why there are different colors is essential in detecting a variety of diseases.

Medical organizations distinguish between different types of colors that phlegm can take:

• Green or Yellow : Indicates bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, or sinusitis.
• Brown : Indicates bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, lung abscess (pus-filled cavity in the lungs), pneumonia, or pneumoconiosis (infiltration of the lungs with minerals).
• White: Indicates bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Black : sign of a fungal infection (respiratory tract mycosis), lung abscess, pneumoconiosis, and smoking.
• Red: Indicates conditions that include internal respiratory bleeding, such as already described abscesses, tuberculosis, or lungs.

As we can see, the color of the phlegm shows what the immune system is trying to expel from the body. For example, a cough with brown phlegm may mean that the patient has been inhaling soil or minerals for a long time. It may also indicate that there is dried blood in some parts of the airways .

On the other hand, a red tinge may in some cases indicate a serious illness. This could mean there is bleeding in the parts of your body that come into contact with your nose and mouth.

In the next section, we will focus on this particular case – what does green phlegm mean in a cough? Here is the answer.

The cough may be accompanied by pain in the chest and throat, which can also help with diagnosis.

What does green phlegm mean?

As we mentioned, the presence of green phlegm when coughing indicates that the body is fighting an infection. While it may be paradoxical, the greenish color is caused by a large amount of dead white blood cells and other substances from fighting the virus or bacteria.

The most common infections that cause this sputum are as follows.

Acute bronchitis

Studies show that acute bronchitis is the most common cause of cough in outpatients. In this case, we are dealing with an infection of viral origin, since rhinoviruses (which cause colds ) are the cause in 90% of cases.

While this is not so common, we should also point out that some forms of bronchitis are caused by bacteria. According to the source cited above, 32% of patients with coughs lasting more than 2 weeks are infected with Bordetella pertussis.

Some symptoms are as follows:

• chest discomfort
• tiredness,
• fever,
• shortness of breath and wheezing.

Cystic fibrosis

In this case, we are dealing with a much more aggressive and serious disease, because it is associated with a certain risk of death (according to studies, it is up to 1.33 cases per million inhabitants). The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) reports that the disease is hereditary and is characterized by a malfunctioning of the exocrine glands.

Normally, the glands produce mucus, saliva, and other fluids that help the body function normally. In patients with cystic fibrosis, this mucus is too thick and clogs the lungs and intestines. A cough with persistent greenish phlegm is an attempt to get rid of this thick, dysfunctional mucus.

Other important facts about this disease include:

• is not contagious,
• as of today, there is no cure for it,
• occurs in one in 3,200 children.

Pneumonia

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumonia accounts for 15% of all deaths in children under the age of five. It is a disease caused by an infection, virus, bacteria or fungus. Again, green phlegm in a cough indicates an immune fight against these microorganisms.

Some of the triggers are Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenza e type b, the pathogenic fungus Pneumocystis Jiroveci, and respiratory syncytial virus. This disease causes the patient’s alveoli to fill with fluid and pus. This makes breathing painful and reduces the absorption of oxygen.

Sinusitis

The cough with green phlegm is typical of bacterial sinusitis. According to statistical studies conducted in the United States, the condition affects approximately 31 million patients annually.

In this case, pathogenic bacteria build up in the sinuses, causing a stuffy nose, expulsion of phlegm, and pain or pressure around the nose and eyes.

Sinusitis occurs with headaches behind the eyes and around the nose.

How To Deal With Green Phlegm Cough?

As you can see, green phlegm in your cough may indicate an immune response to an infection or an inherited disease such as cystic fibrosis. Many natural remedies can help soothe the throat irritation, but depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may be needed.

In many cases, respiratory therapies are not needed because the phlegm disappears on its own. This means that the patient’s immune system can deal with the infection on its own. The body will be free of symptoms within a week.

In other cases, it may be necessary to use antibiotics, inhalers to open up narrowed airways in the lungs, and even surgical interventions. The decision is made by the specialist who deals with the disease.

That is why visiting a doctor is so important .