Phlegm
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with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Phillip Aguila, MD, MBA (Respiratory medicine, Critical Care)
Dr. Aguila graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine. He has trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Internal Medicine at Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He has served as Assistant Professor since 2010.
Eisaku Kamakura, MD (Respiratory medicine)
Dr. Kamakura graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Dentistry, and the Niigata University School of Medicine. He trained at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital and held positions in the Respiratory Medicine departments at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ome City General Hospital, and Musashino Red Cross Hospital. In 2021, he became the specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of General Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.
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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Phlegm is a form of mucus produced in the lungs. You usually don't produce noticeable amounts of phlegm unless you have a cold or another underlying medical condition. Sputum is the term for phlegm that is coughed up.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Repeated fever above 38 ℃
Peripheral cyanosis
Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
Respiratory wheeze
Fever
Possible causes
- Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
A condition where stomach acid flows back up the esophagus (food pipe). It can be caused or worsened by obesity, alcohol, and caffeine. Eating habits also play a role - eating large meals quickly or lying down after meals are known triggers.
- Cough variant asthma
A kind of asthma with the main symptom being a constant dry cough. This occurs because the airways are very sensitive and overreact to foreign substances. The root cause is unclear but involves genetics. Many triggers for asthma flare-ups exist, including smoke, pollen, dust mite droppings, cold weather, exercise, and viral infections.
- Common cold (upper respiratory tract infection)
Viral infection of the nose and throat. Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, and throat pain. Most colds are caused by viruses; a few are caused by bacteria.
- Acute / chronic tracheitis / bronchitis
- Sinusitis
Related serious diseases
- Bronchial asthma
A condition where the airways are highly sensitive and overreact to foreign substances or environmental changes. The underlying cause is unclear but involves genetics. Many triggers for asthma flares include smoke, pollen, dust mite droppings, cold weather, exercise, and viral infections.
- Pneumonia (lower respiratory tract infection)
- Aspergillus
- Deep-seated mycosis
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have phlegm?
Do you have blood in your phlegm?
Do you have a cough?
Do you have a fever?
Do you have a sore throat?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Phillip Aguila, MD, MBA (Respiratory medicine, Critical Care)
Dr. Aguila graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine. He has trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Internal Medicine at Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He has served as Assistant Professor since 2010.
Eisaku Kamakura, MD (Respiratory medicine)
Dr. Kamakura graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Dentistry, and the Niigata University School of Medicine. He trained at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital and held positions in the Respiratory Medicine departments at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ome City General Hospital, and Musashino Red Cross Hospital. In 2021, he became the specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of General Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.
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