Did you know that the colour of phlegm indicates the seriousness of a cough? Respiratory Physician Dr Jane Yap of Mount Alvernia Medical Centre shares: In general when it is thick and green or yellow, it implies infection. When it turns clear, it means the infection is resolving and responding to treatment. If the phlegm is clear, it is more like hypersensitivity as in asthma or rhinitis, or drug and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) induced cough. When there is blood in phlegm, it could indicate bleeding along the mucosal lining from the pressure of coughing. Or it could be indicative of a more serious infection like TB, bronchiectasis or cancer. Further investigations would be required to obtain a proper diagnosis. Further to that, is a cough always infectious? Strictly speaking, a cough is not infectious unless it is caused by an infection from a virus, bacteria or tuberculosis.
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 08:13:23 +0000
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