Everyone has had a cough at some point. Coughing is the body's natural way of clearing the respiratory tract of foreign objects, irritants, and excess mucus.

Coughs are classified into two types: dry cough (nonproductive) and productive cough (wet cough with phlegm). In this article, we'll look at the conditions that cause productive coughs. Some causes of productive coughs may be serious illnesses that require further medical attention.

Various conditions that can cause productive coughs

Common cold

The common cold and cough often occur together in both children and adults. This is caused by viral infections like rhinovirus, coronavirus, and adenovirus. Typically, a cough associated with a cold resolves within 7–10 days. Adequate rest, proper hydration, and over-the-counter cold and cough medications can all help alleviate the symptoms.

Flu

Influenza, or flu, is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Flu can affect people of all ages, but it is most common in children, adults, and people with certain medical conditions who are vulnerable to infection. Common flu symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. In some cases, severe flu can lead to pneumonia and bronchitis.

Acute bronhitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the respiratory tract. This inflammation can cause increased mucus production, so coughing in acute bronchitis usually starts as a dry cough and then develops into a productive cough.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of lung tissue. Pneumonia is caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, which causes inflammation in one or both of the lungs' air sacs (alveoli). When someone has pneumonia, the alveoli can fill with fluid or pus, resulting in a productive cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia coughs usually produce yellow, green, or brown mucus, or sometimes contain blood.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD includes respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. When experiencing COPD, your airways may become inflamed and stop working normally. COPD causes the lungs to produce excess mucus with a persistent cough.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition that causes mucus buildup in the lungs and digestive tract. Cystic fibrosis is usually characterized by coughing, wheezing, swelling of the fingers and toes, and digestive problems.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition in which the airways become damaged, resulting in mucus buildup. This mucus buildup makes the lungs more susceptible to infection.

Treating a cough depends on its cause. You can use over-the-counter cough medications and follow the dosage instructions on the package. You should consult a doctor for further evaluation if your cough worsens or does not improve. You may also need to have tests recommended by your doctor to get a more accurate diagnosis.

Do you have other questions related to the cough you're experiencing? You can make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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