Have A Bad Chest Infection With Green Sputum And Small Black Lumps. On Antibiotics. Advise?

Posted on Mon, 17 Jun 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 Answered on

Thu, 4 Jul 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a bad chest infection. I am on antib's because the sputum is green, but I have noticed that sometimes tthere are small black lumps, about the size of XXXXXXX pips. Any ideas.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Shruti Rijhwani (-4 hours later)

Dear sir,

Thank you for posting your query on XXXXXXX

Well looking into your problem i think you suffer from heavy bacterial infection specially pseudomonal infections give rise to green coloured sputum most commonly.

Black coloured sputum can be present in heavy smokers , in some fungal infections like mucormycosis , in persons who have worked in coal mines - Coal workers pneumoconiosis etc. but these seem to be less likely possibilty in your case.

Most probable thing in your case that some times food particles get stuck to mucus in throat then come along with cough sticking to phlegm as dark coloured particles specially when dark coloured foods like chocolate are eaten.

I advise you to see a pulmonologist , get a chest x XXXXXXX done ,get sputum routine microscopy with culture sensitivity . Malignancy needs to be excluded as you give history of weight loss .

Hope it answers your query.

Take care.

Dr Shruti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj