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Suggest Treatment For Coughing Up Of Green Phlegm

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Posted on Thu, 19 Mar 2015
Question: Couhging alot and alot of green phlegm. Any concerns letting it go untreated. I have No insurance
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Treatment is probably indicated

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

since you already have COPD, an increase in sputum quantity and the change in quality (green color) usually indicates a COPD exacerbation particularly if shortness of breath is also present.
In COPD exacerbations antibiotic treatment is indicated depending on the patient's history. Important aspects of the patient's history may include:
- prior antibiotic usage during the last 3 months
- history of antibiotic allergy
- presence of bronchiectasis.

Leaving it as it is may sometimes end up in improvement. You've got to take into consideration the fact that when treatment is indicated, there has to be a reason for it. And the reason is that patient outcomes are significantly better with treatment.

I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please contact me again.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Coughing Up Of Green Phlegm

Brief Answer: Treatment is probably indicated Detailed Answer: Hello, since you already have COPD, an increase in sputum quantity and the change in quality (green color) usually indicates a COPD exacerbation particularly if shortness of breath is also present. In COPD exacerbations antibiotic treatment is indicated depending on the patient's history. Important aspects of the patient's history may include: - prior antibiotic usage during the last 3 months - history of antibiotic allergy - presence of bronchiectasis. Leaving it as it is may sometimes end up in improvement. You've got to take into consideration the fact that when treatment is indicated, there has to be a reason for it. And the reason is that patient outcomes are significantly better with treatment. I hope I've helped! If you'd like more information, please contact me again. Kind Regards!