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Phlegm symptoms



Phlegm symptoms: Contents

Phlegm symptoms: Introduction

Phlegm is the mucus secreted in the respiratory passages and often expelled from the mouth such as in a cough.

» Review Causes of Phlegm symptoms: full list

Causes of Phlegm symptoms:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Phlegm symptoms. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

See full list of 18 causes of Phlegm symptoms

» Review Causes of Phlegm symptoms: full list

Phlegm symptoms: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Phlegm symptoms, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

See full list of 924 Symptom Checker combinations related to Phlegm symptoms

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Phlegm symptoms

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Phlegm symptoms:

Diagnostic Guides for Phlegm symptoms

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Phlegm symptoms from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Phlegm symptoms. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Phlegm symptoms

Medical Books Excerpts

HEMOPTYSIS

  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)

Hemoptysis

  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms" (2004)

Hemoptysis

  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms" (2007)

HEMOPTYSIS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Hemoptysis

  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)

Hemoptysis*

  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis" (1999)

Hemoptysis

  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)

Hemoptysis

  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)

Hemoptysis

  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis" (2007)

Hemoptysis

  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series" (2007)

Hemoptysis

  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)

Hemoptysis

  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics" (2006)

Hemoptysis

  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)

HEMOPTYSIS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Phlegm symptoms: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

Diagnostic tests for Phlegm symptoms:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Phlegm symptoms. Some of these are listed below :

  • Physical examination
    • Inspect phlegm for color and consistency
    • Feel over the sinuses for tenderness that would suggest acute sinusitis
    • Examine lymph nodes looking for enlarged cervical or Axillary lymph nodes which may indicate lung cancer
    • Examine for Horner's syndrome - e.g. dilated pupil and drooping of the upper eyelid which may indicate lung cancer.
    • Examine for possible causes of postnasal drip - e.g. sinusitis, ear infection, nasal polyps.
    • Examine lungs noting breath sounds and their intensity and also the presence of added sounds
  • more tests...»

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Phlegm symptoms

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Phlegm symptoms. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • What do you mean by phlegm symptoms? - Phlegm is the mucus secreted in the respiratory passages and often expelled from the mouth such as in a cough.
  • How long have you had the phlegm symptoms? - To determine if acute or chronic i.e. chronic phlegm production is a productive moist cough that has been present and not improving for more than 4 weeks. Acute phlegm production may suggest acute upper respiratory tract infection (e.g. common cold or influenza), viral pneumonia or bacterial pneumonia. Chronic phlegm production is more suggestive of chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung cancer or asthma.
  • How would you describe the nature of the phlegm? - e.g. copious amounts with offensive smell suggests bronchiectasis; pus-like sputum may suggest pneumonia, abscess, tuberculosis or bronchiectasis; yellow-green thick and sticky may suggest asthma; profuse and watery may suggest lung cancer; red-currant jelly may suggest lung cancer; pink and frothy may suggest left ventricular failure with pulmonary edema; blood-stained may suggest chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, lung metastasis, foreign body, left ventricular failure and mitral stenosis.
  • How would you describe the nature of the cough? - e.g. painful cough may suggest left ventricular heart failure, weak cough may suggest lung cancer.
  • What time of the day is the cough worse? - e.g. cough at night may suggest asthma, left ventricular failure, postnasal drip or chronic bronchitis; cough on waking may suggest bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis.
  • more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Phlegm symptoms (21 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Phlegm symptoms) may include:

  • Blood in sputum? - may suggest chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, lung metastasis, foreign body, left ventricular failure and mitral stenosis.
  • Wheeze? - usually suggests asthma but may also be chronic bronchitis, foreign body, lung cancer, congestive heart failure.
  • If has had a wheeze, have you had previous attacks of wheezing, hay fever or eczema? - more likely to suggest asthma as cause of phlegm symptoms.
  • Shortness of breath? - In acute cases may suggest congestive heart failure and pneumonia. In chronic cases may suggest chronic congestive heart failure, tuberculosis and lung cancer.
  • Orthopnea (breathlessness lying down flat)? - suggests left ventricular heart failure.
  • more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Phlegm symptoms (21 listings)

Stories from Users for Phlegm symptoms

Real-life user stories relating to Phlegm symptoms:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Phlegm symptoms or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Phlegm symptoms

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Patient Surveys for Phlegm symptoms

Organs affected by Phlegm symptoms:

The list of organs typically affected by Phlegm symptoms may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Phlegm symptoms

The list below shows some of the causes of Phlegm symptoms mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 18 causes of Phlegm symptoms

How Common are these Causes of Phlegm symptoms?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Phlegm symptoms. Of the 18 causes of Phlegm symptoms that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 5 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 0 causes are "common" diseases
  • 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 0 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 1 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 15 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 18 causes of Phlegm symptoms

Conditions listing symptoms: Phlegm symptoms:

The following list of conditions have 'Phlegm symptoms' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

P

  • Postnasal drip ... mucus feeling in back of throat

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    • Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Phlegm symptoms?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Phlegm symptoms, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.

    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    Classifications of Phlegm symptoms:

    Medical Conditions associated with Phlegm symptoms:

    Mouth symptoms (2805 causes), Swallowing symptoms (465 causes), Throat symptoms (2303 causes), Eating symptoms (1673 causes), Esophagus symptoms (497 causes), Head symptoms (5831 causes), Face symptoms (4261 causes), Food symptoms (1645 causes)

    Symptoms related to Phlegm symptoms:

    Sputum symptoms (237 causes), Blood in sputum (136 causes), Cough (1195 causes), Mucus (747 causes), Sputum (3 causes), Fever (1486 causes), Foul smelling sputum, Weight loss (1779 causes), Dyspnea (2429 causes), Stridor (665 causes), Hoarseness of voice, Hemoptysis (86 causes)

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


     » Next page: Causes of Phlegm symptoms

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