What does the colour of sputum say?
• Blood streaked sputum inflammation of throat ( larynx , trachea ) or bronchi , lung cancer , ulcers • Pink sputum sputum and blood formed from alveoli and small peripheral bronchi • Copious amounts of blood - cavitary TB , lung abscess ,bronchiectasis , lung infarction , pulmonary embolism • Green or greenish coloured infection pneumonia , cystic fibrosis ( green from degenerative changes in cell debris ) • Rust colored - pneumococcal bacteria , pulmonary TB • Brownish - chronic bronchitis ( greenish / yellowish / brown ) , chronic pneumonia ( whitish - brown ) • Yellowish purulent - pus - haemophilus • Yellowish/green ( mucopurulent ) - treatment with antibiotics that reduce symptoms - bronchiectasis , cystic fibrosis , pneumonia • Whitish grey - chronic allergic bronchitis ( no. of eosinophils ) • White , milky or opaque (mucoid) - viral infection or allergy ( asthma ) • Foamy white - earlier phase - pulmonary edema • Frothy pink - severe pulmonary edema • Black - black specks in mucoid secretions - smoke inhalation ( fires , tobacco , heroine ) , coal dust
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