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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Chronic Cough With Clear Phlegm Indicate Bronchitis?

I have had a chronic cough for about two weeks now with no cold or fever included at any point throughout the duration of the cough. For the first week and a half, the cough was producing a yellowish phlegm but now it is only clear phlegm. I went to urgent care, but all they did was prescribe Azithromycin. Could this be just a case of bronchitis? Or could it be something more severe? Side note, I am age 23 and have been an on and off smoker since I was 18.
posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2015
Twitter Thu, 28 May 2015 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 28 May 2015 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Productive cough lasting for last 2 weeks can be due to infection or bronchitis.
Yellow colored sputum is more suggestive of infection.
Disappearance of yellow sputum and appearance of clear sputum is indicative of clearing of infection.
Azithromycin is an antibiotic and probably it is responsible for clearing the infection.
Bronchitis is inflammation of the respiratory tract, more common in smokers and has seasonal distribution.
You can take steam for quick clearance of sputum and cough suppressant for suppressing the cough.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
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Could Chronic Cough With Clear Phlegm Indicate Bronchitis?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Productive cough lasting for last 2 weeks can be due to infection or bronchitis. Yellow colored sputum is more suggestive of infection. Disappearance of yellow sputum and appearance of clear sputum is indicative of clearing of infection. Azithromycin is an antibiotic and probably it is responsible for clearing the infection. Bronchitis is inflammation of the respiratory tract, more common in smokers and has seasonal distribution. You can take steam for quick clearance of sputum and cough suppressant for suppressing the cough. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri