What does black vaginal discharge mean?

Why is black mucus produced?

The discharge of black sputum indicates the presence of pneumoconiosis. This is a group of occupational lung diseases. With prolonged inhalation of polluted air, tissue scarring develops. This is almost incurable. The course of the disease is chronic. It often happens that pathology may manifest itself after 5–10 years.

The reasons that cause the formation of black sputum are divided into two types:

• ingestion of foreign objects into the respiratory system, which can color the sputum in different colors;
• the development of various diseases, often dangerous.

Pneumoconiosis often causes black sputum to be discharged.
Sputum may be colored in the following cases:

• When drinking tea, strong coffee, certain drinks or other coloring substances.
• The lungs are filled with dust or crumbs of other minerals. Found among miners.
• Smoker's cough.
• One of the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, gangrene, respiratory tumors, metastases.
• Pneumonia.

The appearance of black sputum is very dangerous, accompanied by such symptoms as weight loss, poor appetite, pale skin and the appearance of a waxy tint, the presence of blood clots and pus in the mucus, an unpleasant odor when breathing, chest pain, shortness of breath.

Glassy sputum

Bronchiectasis or emphysema, allergic tracheitis are some other diseases for which the appearance of glassy exudate is typical.

Glassy, ​​transparent sputum almost always accompanies bronchial asthma. The asthmatic process most often develops as a result of an allergic lesion of the body.

The course of the pathological process is accompanied by shortness of breath and suffocation due to stenosis of the respiratory tract (bronchial tubes). Asthma is not always allergic in nature.

The disease may have a viral origin. The disease is characterized by intense coughing and suffocation. Has a paroxysmal character. It worsens in the autumn and spring seasons.

We are talking about a potentially fatal disease that develops as a result of bronchospasm.

Somewhat less frequently, glassy sputum appears as a result of the course of an acute respiratory viral infection (symptoms and features of the course of the pathology have already been discussed above).

Symptoms of pathology

What does the nasal mucosa look like?

As the disease progresses and mucus accumulates, it becomes necessary to clear the airways. When the bronchi are irritated by secreted mucous secretions, the cough reflex is triggered, and the urge to quickly exhale air appears.

When a lot of mucus appears, it is necessary to distinguish the cleansing process from the transition of an inflammatory disease to a chronic condition.

The coughing movement begins with a deep and sharp breath. Next, the laryngeal muscles contract. The bronchial muscles tense, while the abdominal muscles contract sharply. This is how the muscle fibers overcome the resistance of the closed glottis. Then there is a sudden opening of the glottis and a strong inhalation.

A coughing attack and discharge of mucus from the bronchi are not a disease, but may be a symptom of some disease.

Pink sputum

Pink sputum almost always indicates diseases that are accompanied by the discharge of fresh blood. As in the previous case, we have to talk about complex diseases, often potentially fatal.

We can talk about:

• Tuberculosis in later stages. In the early stages, blood comes out in small drops (so-called hemoptysis) or in streaks. In severe cases, pink sputum is discharged, with a structure similar to raspberry pudding or jelly.
• Lung cancer in the early stages. It is typically characterized by the development of neoplasm in the structure of the bronchi or lungs (from epithelial tissue). The closer to the center the tumor is located, and the larger its size, the more active the bleeding.

Pink sputum can also occur with tracheitis. The culprit of the symptom may be a banal rupture of a vessel in the nose or the structure of the respiratory tract.

Diagnostics

If black sputum appears, you should consult a specialist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary examination. Carry out complex diagnostics:

• radiography;
• CT scan;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• blood analysis.

The examination will help determine the condition of the internal organs located in the chest - heart, lungs, bronchi, trachea.

Such diagnostic measures make it possible to accurately determine the nature of sputum formation, identify the presence of tumor formations, metastases, enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Sowing black sputum on a nutrient medium will show what kind of infection is present in it, and therefore in the body. This is very important for choosing the right treatment.

Rules for collecting sputum for tuberculosis testing

In order for the analysis to show the most reliable result, the material must be collected correctly. 2-3 ml of discharge will be enough.

Sputum collection is carried out early in the morning before meals. This is due to the fact that during sleep a sufficient amount of the necessary secretion accumulates in the bronchi. And when changing body position (from horizontal to vertical), the contents of the respiratory tract are better expectorated.

Be sure to protect the analysis from excess bacteria from the oral cavity. Therefore, it is necessary to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with boiled water or a special weakly concentrated solution of aluminum alum.

The container for collecting discharge must be sterile, preferably glass, with a tight-fitting lid. Currently, pharmacies sell special containers designed for testing.

After a deep breath, exhale as sharply as possible and spit the sputum into the prepared container.

You can store the collected discharge in the refrigerator for a short time before sending it to the laboratory.

Important! Saliva in sputum often leads to distorted test results for tuberculosis. Therefore, you need to try to ensure that as little as possible gets into the biomaterial.

In cases where the cough is not accompanied by expectoration of sputum, the doctor may prescribe drugs that stimulate this process. If it is not possible to naturally collect material for diagnosis, they resort to collection using a probe.

A single test based on self-collection of sputum by the patient is not enough to make a diagnosis of tuberculosis. Therefore, the patient will donate discharge twice more under the supervision of medical workers.

Coughing is a natural mechanism for clearing the airways of various foreign substances. It may have natural causes not related to the presence of diseases in the body (dust, food fragments), or be the result of some health problems of an infectious or non-infectious nature. Coughing is often accompanied by expectoration of sputum, a mucus-like secretion from the glands of the trachea and bronchi. The release of a small amount of clear mucus that does not cause discomfort is considered normal, while white sputum when coughing is a possible reason to be wary and consult a doctor for a diagnosis.

Drug treatment

Medicines are prescribed depending on the cause that caused the development of black sputum:

• If the respiratory disease is caused by bacteria, antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
• For pulmonary tuberculosis, complex treatment is carried out, which includes special medications, vitamins, antibiotics, restoratives and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• For bronchial asthma, antihistamines, expectorants, and agents for dilation and cleansing of the bronchi are prescribed.
• Diseases of the respiratory system, which are accompanied by a severe cough with the release of black sputum, are treated with antitussive, antiallergic drugs, and medications that relieve inflammation.
• The patient is recommended to take general strengthening agents that increase the body's protective function, mineral and vitamin supplements.
• If respiratory cancer is detected, surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are performed. In addition, an immunostimulant and high-calorie nutrition are prescribed.

To liquefy dark mucus, plant-based expectorants and synthetic drugs are prescribed. Herbal preparations have fewer negative reactions, but can cause allergies, especially in childhood.

If mucus is difficult to clear, mucolytic expectorants are used. You should not take antitussives that block the cough reflex and cause mucus stagnation. This leads to a bacterial infection and pneumonia developing. Taking any medications must be agreed with your doctor. At the same time, restorative treatment is carried out, aimed at eliminating other symptoms of the disease.

Types of medications prescribed for black phlegm

Medicines for cough with sputum are divided into several groups:

• medicinal products based on bromhexine;
• dosage form based on ambroxol;
• products based on acetylcysteine ​​and carbocysteine;
• preparations based on herbal components (marshmallow, anise, plantain) for the treatment of other symptoms of the disease.

Antibiotics for the treatment of cough are prescribed only in severe cases. Cough syrups are widely used to treat cough in children. There are syrups that are analogous to tablets, with the same composition and effect.

Treatment of cough with phlegm is also carried out with the help of herbs. For medicinal collection, pine buds, onions, garlic, mint, chamomile, St. John's wort, and sage are used. Special breast preparations, which can be purchased in ready-made form in pharmacies, are effective.

What to do if white and clear sputum appears

Diagnostics or necessary examinations

To make an accurate diagnosis, in addition to visiting a therapist, it is often necessary to see a specialist - an otolaryngologist, a phthisiatrician, a pulmonologist, a cardiologist, an allergist-immunologist, an oncologist. In addition to the microscopic examination of sputum, other tests (blood, urine, smears for pathogenic microflora from the nasopharynx), examinations of internal organs (X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound) may be prescribed. After a thorough screening, the attending physician selects a suitable treatment regimen based on the patient’s health status and the presence of contraindications to certain treatment methods (allergy to certain medications, pregnancy, childhood, etc.).

Read also: Newborn with alcohol syndrome

Folk remedies to relieve symptoms of the disease

All popular recommendations are aimed at relieving the patient’s condition as quickly as possible and removing dark sputum. Helps well:

Althea - beneficial properties

• licorice naked;
• marshmallow;
• syrup from ivy, plantain;
• Icelandic moss.

If the disease is not dangerous, to relieve symptoms, you can drink warm milk with the addition of butter, honey, and goat fat.

Warming up helps a lot. Warm up the area of ​​the back and bronchi using compresses made from cottage cheese and boiled potatoes. Such procedures remove mucus well, eliminate swelling, and the patient recovers faster.

It is important to know that in case of tuberculosis, oncology and purulent pathology in the lungs, such procedures are strictly prohibited.

Other popular advice is also effective:

Honey and viburnum for making jelly

• Viburnum jelly with honey. Drink throughout the day.
• Mix fresh juice of carrots, black radish and milk and drink 10 ml 6 times a day.
• Prepare a sage infusion, strain, add boiled milk. Take half a glass with honey or sugar.

You can enhance the effect of folk remedies by inhalation with soda and medicinal herbs. Inhalations with eucalyptus, fir and cedar oils help. The procedure is carried out before bedtime.

Any disease weakens the patient, so it is recommended to eat more fruits, berries, compotes, fruit drinks, and juices. The diet includes seafood, fatty sea fish, caviar, lean meat, and lactic acid products.

Related video: How to cure phlegm in the throat

Methods for diagnosing diseases by the color of sputum

Diagnosis of the problem should be carried out by a pulmonologist and/or phthisiatrician.

It is recommended to independently expectorate the sputum into a clean container made of transparent material (glass or plastic). By the nature and color of the exudate, one can judge the type of pathogenic process.

We often talk about:

• Mucous sputum, which is most often discharged during acute respiratory diseases.
• Liquid transparent sputum. Almost always indicates the course of infectious and inflammatory processes in the bronchi or lungs.
• Pinkish color of sputum, which indicates fresh bleeding due to pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer and other similar life-threatening conditions.
• Green sputum or yellow-green exudate indicates purulent processes in the lower respiratory tract, during which the epithelial tissue may melt.
• Glassy sputum is released in COPD.

In general, examinations are the prerogative of a specialist.

The color of sputum is of great diagnostic importance. However, to make and verify a diagnosis, you need to undergo a whole range of instrumental and laboratory tests.

Smoking and phlegm are phenomena that often accompany each other. The body tries to resist the monstrous onslaught of toxins and strives to remove the poisons, tars, soot and other “delights” of cigarette smoke imposed on it. Mucus forms in the respiratory tract, trying to bind negative manifestations and minimize the consequences.

A cough appears after smoking a cigarette. This is how the body tries to get rid of phlegm, removing some of the toxins along with it. And the smoker coughs up phlegm. What does the appearance of sputum mean? What diseases can it be a symptom of? How to get rid of pathological mucus?

From the article you will learn