Mucous phlegm
Generally colorless or pale white transparent mucus. It is more common in the early stage of acute bronchitis or lung infection. The sputum of chronic bronchitis is mostly white foam mucus sputum. The sputum of viral pneumonia and allergic pneumonia is also mucinous, but the amount is small.
Mucous pus and phlegm
The appearance is pale yellow block, which is common in mixed infection of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia or tuberculosis. It can also be seen in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Serous sputum
Generally, it is thin and transparent foam-like sputum with a large amount. More common in patients with bronchiectasis or pulmonary edema.
Serous purulent sputum
It is more common in patients with bronchiectasis and lung abscess. Sputum can be divided into three layers, the upper layer is foam block, the middle layer is slurry, and the lower layer is turbid pus residue and necrotic substance.
Purulent sputum
The appearance is yellow-green sticky block or opaque pus-like. Patients with lung abscess and bronchiectasis are more common, and the amount is also more. It can also be seen in pulmonary tuberculosis cavity complicated with infection.
Foul phlegm
The amount of phlegm is foul, which is more common in lung abscess. Phlegm is yellow-green, with fishy smell, suggesting anaerobic infection. If the sputum is red and smelly, it is the advanced stage of lung cancer.
bloody sputum
Blood in sputum is common in tuberculosis, lung cancer and bronchiectasis. There is rust-colored blood sputum in lobar pneumonia. Black-red sputum can be seen in pulmonary infarction. The sputum orange can be seen in paragonimiasis. Pink sputum is often seen in mixed blood of pulmonary edema.
Green phlegm
Green sputum is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lungs, while black sputum suggests chronic inflammation of respiratory tract or inhalation of dust. Often some patients with related occupational diseases.