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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Coughing With Brownish Phlegm?

I started off with a bad cough with lots of bright green phlegm. My doctor prescribed some antibiotics and my symptoms got worse. I got a fever, sore throat and even lost my voice, 2 weeks later, I have this tickle in my throat and now coughing up some brownish colored phlegm and my chest hurts every time I have cold or carbonated drinks. I took tussin dm .. and it wont go away. Do I need other type of care? Why wont this go away?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 13 Jun 2016 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 13 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Brownish colored sputum is suggestive of lung infection (pneumonia).
And you are not improving with routine cough treatment and also develop chest pain.
So possibility of pneumonia is more in your case.
So consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray
3. Sputum culture and sensitivity report.
Chest x ray is needed for the diagnosis of pneumonia.
Sputum culture will isolate the causative organism and sensitivity report will guide you about effective antibiotic treatment.
This way we can achieve quick recovery.
So don't take treatment by your own, consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
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What Causes Coughing With Brownish Phlegm?

Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Brownish colored sputum is suggestive of lung infection (pneumonia). And you are not improving with routine cough treatment and also develop chest pain. So possibility of pneumonia is more in your case. So consult pulmonologist and get done 1. Clinical examination of respiratory system 2. Chest x ray 3. Sputum culture and sensitivity report. Chest x ray is needed for the diagnosis of pneumonia. Sputum culture will isolate the causative organism and sensitivity report will guide you about effective antibiotic treatment. This way we can achieve quick recovery. So don t take treatment by your own, consult pulmonologist and discuss all these. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.