What Causes Persistent Cough Along With Green Phlegm?

Posted on Sat, 10 Jan 2015

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

Sat, 10 Jan 2015 Answered on

Mon, 9 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Persistent cough , yellow green phlegm , overall tiredness .

Answered by Dr. Naveen (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Upper/lower respiratory tract infection...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query

In the absence of any cardiac related problem, the symptoms described by you seem to be related to either upper or lower respiratory tract infection. In either of the case, the treatment remains the same.

My suggestions to you are:
1. Drink plenty of warm water. Warm water re-hydrates the mucosa of the nose and the throat, thus reducing the irritation.
2. Do steam inhalation 3-4 times a day. Steam loosens the tenacious sputum and relieves the cough.
3. Use saline nasal spray (available OTC), if you have associated cold/nasal block.
4. Try taking mucolytic such as ambroxol or bromhexine. Mucolytic medicine reduces the consistency of the secretions and the cough.
5. If you do not get better with the above medicines within a couple of days, consult your doctor to start broad spectrum antibiotics.
6. Avoid coffee/chilled food and beverages.

Hope I have answered the query; I will be available for the follow-up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari