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What Causes Cough With An Excessive Amount Of Mucus?
Question: I'm a 56 yr old female who's always been healthy and active. I'm an avid exerciser and have never smoked. Two years ago I started having a cough with an excessive amount of mucous. The amount of mucous I have is abnormal. It has taken control of my life. I spend more time in the bathroom than anywhere else, since the process of coughing it up is revolting. I am self employed, which is good since it takes so long to get my chest cleared enough to be in public. I no longer answer calls at work due to the hoarseness of my voice. I've had several sputum tests, to no avail. I've had a bronchoscopy and was told I had bronchitis, but no reason why. I had my stomach scoped, thinking it could be coming from acid reflux. I've been tested for allergies, and ear nose and throat problems, but nothing found. I'm at my wits end and not sure where to turn. I recently read about something that sounded like my symptoms. It was mycobacterium avium intracellular. Although I've had lab work done, the results have always came back within a few days. I read that diagnosis of the mycobacterium requires at least two weeks to grow the c. I have no other symptoms other than coughing, hoarseness and continual mucous. However, I have noticed that the mucous tends to worsen upon eating, and even worse when I eat anything with sugar. My question is do you think I could have this mycobacterium disease? Since I've been to a lung specialist already, I'm hesitant to go back unless I can make a suggestion of what to test me for. Also, if this is a possible diagnosis, what are the side effects of the treatment? I understand it is one to two years of antibiotics, and it is hard for anyone to stand the side effects for that long. Thank you for any help you can provide to me.
Brief Answer:
Specific tests available to diagnose Mycobacterium
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I went through the details with diligence. From your history the first diagnosis comes to mind is chronic bronchitis (Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease). It's a condition diagnosed by pulmonary function test. I want you to discuss about this test when you get to visit a chest physician. Chronic sputum production in your age group is highly suggestive of chronic bronchitis.
Do you have any risk factor for Mycobacterium avium infections like immuno-suppression, GERD or immuno-modulator therapy in the past? Though it can develop in immuno-competent person also, history of risk factors such as the above are closely associated with this infection.
Having said that, this condition is diagnosed based on few tests. Most notable test is sputum or broncho-alveolar lavage sample testing. We can culture two consecutive sputum culture or broncho-alveolar lavage and isolate the organism. It may take 2-4 days from the time sample is cultured to grow the organism.
Other means to establish diagnosis is via CT scan. In most of the cases there is radiological evidence of fibro-nodular shadow or cavities on CT scan. Or histopathology of trans-bronchial lung biopsy sample along with any of the culture positivity.
If you have enough evidence of these then only we can conclusively tell that this is indeed Mycobacterium avium infections. Moreover these infections in particular are more aggressive or stormy in nature and you are right in saying that it takes usually more than 12 months to cure it and if any side effects of medications develop then those culprit drugs are to be substituted by other drugs because there are many alternatives as per as the treatment is concerned and for treatment along with a culture, a sensitivity pattern for the antibiotics are also to be done.
I hope you found some information that you can discuss with the doctor. If you have further queries you can ask me.
Regards,
Dr Arnab Maji
Pulmonologist
Specific tests available to diagnose Mycobacterium
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I went through the details with diligence. From your history the first diagnosis comes to mind is chronic bronchitis (Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease). It's a condition diagnosed by pulmonary function test. I want you to discuss about this test when you get to visit a chest physician. Chronic sputum production in your age group is highly suggestive of chronic bronchitis.
Do you have any risk factor for Mycobacterium avium infections like immuno-suppression, GERD or immuno-modulator therapy in the past? Though it can develop in immuno-competent person also, history of risk factors such as the above are closely associated with this infection.
Having said that, this condition is diagnosed based on few tests. Most notable test is sputum or broncho-alveolar lavage sample testing. We can culture two consecutive sputum culture or broncho-alveolar lavage and isolate the organism. It may take 2-4 days from the time sample is cultured to grow the organism.
Other means to establish diagnosis is via CT scan. In most of the cases there is radiological evidence of fibro-nodular shadow or cavities on CT scan. Or histopathology of trans-bronchial lung biopsy sample along with any of the culture positivity.
If you have enough evidence of these then only we can conclusively tell that this is indeed Mycobacterium avium infections. Moreover these infections in particular are more aggressive or stormy in nature and you are right in saying that it takes usually more than 12 months to cure it and if any side effects of medications develop then those culprit drugs are to be substituted by other drugs because there are many alternatives as per as the treatment is concerned and for treatment along with a culture, a sensitivity pattern for the antibiotics are also to be done.
I hope you found some information that you can discuss with the doctor. If you have further queries you can ask me.
Regards,
Dr Arnab Maji
Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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