Cough with phlegm: medicine, causes, and how to deal with it

Definition

What is a cough with phlegm?

Coughing is the body's reflex mechanism to expel foreign particles found in the respiratory tract. Coughing can be called phlegm if it is accompanied by mucus discharge (phlegm) from the throat. A cough with phlegm is also called a productive cough.

Mucus or phlegm is a fibrous fluid as a result of secretions due to inflammation or inflammation in the respiratory tract. Inflammation is usually caused by infection with germs, such as bacteria or viruses.

Under normal conditions, the respiratory tract actually produces as much as 100 milliliters of mucus per day. This mucus functions to keep moisture and support the work of the respiratory system. Its antibody enzymes function to protect the lining of the organ channels from irritants, such as dust, microorganisms, and bacteria.

However, the infection causes a stimulation of the mucous membrane (mucus) to overproduce mucus. This event is also called expectations. The mucus that is produced excessively by the respiratory tract can clot into thick mucus, clogging the airways and triggering a cough.

Due to the phlegm that builds up in the airways, you can also feel tightness in your chest and throat while you have a cough with phlegm.

How common is this condition?

Cough is a common and easy to treat minor ailments. However, a persistent cough with phlegm can indicate a serious health problem.

There are two types of coughs that are commonly complained of by many people, namely cough with phlegm and dry cough. In medical terms, they are also known as productive and non-productive coughs based on the production of sputum that is produced.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms that accompany a cough with phlegm?

The symptoms that appear indicate how badly you have a cough with phlegm. It is important to be more sensitive to the symptoms that accompany this type of cough in order to recognize the disease that causes your cough with phlegm.

The following are other symptoms that usually occur together during a cough with phlegm:

• Sore throat
• The body shivered
• Hard to breathe
• Continuous cough accompanied by sputum discharge
• Nasal congestion and runny nose

In some cases of cough with phlegm, the phlegm that is secreted can also be reddish due to the presence of blood. This condition is known as hemoptysis (coughing up blood). If the red color that appears in the sputum is thick enough, you should immediately ask a doctor for help as a treatment step.

When should I see a doctor?

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience phlegm cough that lasts up to two weeks.

Especially if you find it increasingly difficult to breathe, cough is accompanied by bleeding, and the skin color turns pale blue. Thick, smelly mucus can also indicate a more serious infection.

You should see a doctor immediately if:

• Cough with phlegm does not heal for more than two weeks.
• There is pain in the chest so you feel short of breath, even though you don't have allergies or asthma.
• The appearance of a rash on the surface of the skin.
• The phlegm gets thicker and changes color to become more concentrated.
• Cough with phlegm accompanied by blood.
• Cough intensity is getting higher at night.
• For children under 2 years of age, when the body temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius or more for more than one day.
• Have a fever and body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius.
• Muscle pain in the body.
• Have seizures.

Cause

What causes a cough with phlegm?

A cough with light phlegm is generally caused by a viral or bacterial respiratory infection. The most common diseases that cause a cough with phlegm are colds and flu.

If the cough with phlegm has lasted for more than 3 weeks or more (chronic), the Nottingham Respiratory Research Unit states there may be several underlying causes.

Some respiratory diseases that cause cough with phlegm, namely:

• Asthma: a condition caused by narrowing and thickening of the airway walls and increased sputum production. Asthma cough can be accompanied by symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath.
• Bronchiectasis: inflammation of the branches of the windpipe (bronchi). which causes thickening of the bronchial walls, leading to excess phlegm production. The accumulated phlegm becomes a site for bacterial colonization causing the inflammation to get worse.
• Chronic bronchitis: occurs when you have a cough with phlegm for more than 3 months due to inflammation that occurs in the bronchial tubes, which are the tubes that carry air from the nose and throat down to the lungs.
• Eosinophilic bronchitis: inflammation or inflammation caused by eosinophils contained in the respiratory system. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that works to overcome inflammation and control the immune system.
• Immunodeficiency: a condition when the body loses its ability to protect itself from bacteria, viruses and parasites due to decreased production of immunoglobulin substances.
• Pneumonia: is an acute infection of the lungs, mostly caused by bacteria, and some other possibilities by viruses or fungi. Due to pneumonia, the mucus secretion process around the lungs becomes more intensive so that the lungs produce a lot of mucus.
• COPD: a condition in which the function of the lungs and airways is disrupted which brings in rich air caused by concomitant respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking.
• Cystic fibrosis: is a genetic disease that results in thickening of the mucus in various organs. The disorder that causes a cough with phlegm is caused by a lack of protein in the body cystic fibrosis trans membrane regulator (CFTR).

Diagnosis

How to diagnose diseases with this condition?

During consultation, the doctor usually asks how long the cough has lasted and how severe the symptoms are. Several causes of a cough with mucus can be diagnosed with a simple physical exam.

When you consult a doctor, usually the doctor will ask you about the thickness and color of your sputum.

Phlegm that shows a color like iron rust (rust colored) can indicate pneumonia infection. While black, foul-smelling phlegm, even accompanied by pus, can indicate an infection caused by anaerobic bacteria or caused by a lung abscess.

If the cough has been going on for a long time accompanied by a number of serious symptoms, such as fever, weight loss, and frequent loss of consciousness, the doctor will order a series of tests, including tests:

• X-ray or CT-Scan to find out the performance of the lungs
• Blood test
• Lab tests to analyze sputum conditions
• Pulse measurement (pulse oximetry) to measure oxygen levels in the body.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat a cough with phlegm?

It is important to know that cough medicine with phlegm is not intended to relieve cough as if you are taking medicine for dry cough. Cough medicine with phlegm aims to stimulate a cough to make it more effective at clearing the respiratory tract from mucus and other irritants.

In addition, cough medicines with phlegm, both those obtained from pharmacies and those made traditionally at home, should be able to help loosen the phlegm or mucus that has accumulated along the respiratory tract, while reducing the amount.

Here are some of the characteristics of cough medicines that are safe to consume to cure a cough with phlegm:

1. Expectorant

Expectorant cough medicine contains active ingredients such as bromhexine , guaifenesin, ipecacuanha which works effectively to thin phlegm.

2. Decongestants

Decongestants can reduce the mucus that flows in your nose. This cough medicine works by reducing swelling in the nose and opening the air passages.

3. Mukolitik

Content bromhexine and acetylsistei in it works by changing the physical properties of the mucus so that it becomes thinner. Examples of drugs that contain mucolytics are bromhexy, acetylsisitein, and ambroxol.

4. Combination drugs

The content consists of expectorants and mucolytics so that it can remove mucus that blocks the respiratory tract. Each combination drug generally also contains decongestants and antihistamines.

5. Dornase-alfa

Dornase-alfa is a mucus-thinning medication that is often used by people with cystic fibrosis . This cough with phlegm usually requires a doctor's prescription. This medication is used by inhalation through a nebulizer.

6. Menthol Balm

The combination of camphor and menthol compounds contained in the swab balm can make the throat feel more relieved, reduce the frequency and symptoms of coughing, and make the breath feel more relieved.

7. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen treats cough with phlegm accompanied by fever and helps relieve sore throat.

Are there restrictions in the treatment of cough with phlegm?

In addition to knowing the types of drugs that can be used for cough with phlegm, you should also be aware of some of the ingredients in pharmacies that can endanger health, such as the following.

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take drugs that contain calcium iodide, alcohol, and codeine. Codeine can cause respiratory problems in babies, while alcohol and iodide can be addictive when the baby is born.
• Some other suppressant medicines that contain codeine are dangerous if taken in excess amounts for a long time. The risk of consuming high doses of codeine can lead to narrowing of the respiratory tract and even death.
• For those of you who have diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disorders, you should first consult your doctor before taking non-drug cough medicines.
• Before consuming, make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients in the medicine.

The use of pharmacy cough medicines should be done carefully and wisely. Always learn the drug content, side effects, and how to use what is listed on the packaging.

If after taking non-prescription cough medicine it doesn't seem to make your cough with phlegm get better, don't hesitate to consult your doctor immediately to get a prescription that is more potent.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat this condition?

Treatment can not only be done by taking cough medicine. Some simple home care steps can also be applied to relieve coughs without worrying about the side effects of chemical drugs.

Natural cough with phlegm treatments such as the following are considered safer and more effective cures:

• Get plenty of rest by reducing your usual daily activities.
• Drink plenty of water to replace lost body fluids during a cough with phlegm.
• Gargle with salt water every three hours a day while experiencing cough symptoms.
• Drink honey that has been dissolved in lemon juice and tea to get rid of the mucus that has clumped in the throat.
• Consume raw ginger and garlic directly.
• Avoiding prohibited foods when coughing, such as fried foods and fast food, because they can worsen the cough.
• Keep your body temperature warm, one way is to take a warm shower. The high temperature of the water can help loosen phlegm.

How to relieve cough with phlegm in children?

It is not uncommon for children to develop a cough with phlegm, including whooping cough.

Treatment of cough with phlegm for children cannot be done carelessly. Moreover, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children under the age of four are not advised to take non-prescription cough medicines that are easily available at pharmacies.

Not only the persistent coughing, the lack of smooth flow of air in the respiratory tract also causes children to feel short of breath making it difficult to sleep at night.

Well, to deal with this cough with phlegm you can give 1/2 tablespoon of honey before they sleep to speed up the healing at night. However, giving honey can trigger botulism in children under 12 months of age.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to consult your doctor for the best solution to overcome your disease.