Why did my cough come back?

Question

I have had a cough for about a month. Sometimes I would cough up green phlem and other times it would be a dry hacking cough, it would last for a couple minutes. It went away for two days, but now it has come back. I have taken robotussin for cough, but it did nothing for me.

I do have this rattling noise in my chest sometimes.

Anybody have any ideas??

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hi Angel..,

A cough is technically defined as a forced expiration. There are many causes of a cough because there are many situations in which forced expirations are needed to clear the lungs.

You state that you have had hacking cough and green phlegm. Green phlegm is produced when you have had a chest infection. The green phlegm is made up of dead tissue and dead bacteria. 

Hacking coughs are due to irritations in the back of the throat. The irritation could the result of an allergic reaction or the "healing process" which follows a bad chest infection.

Patients with heart failure also have a cough but their phlegm is different.

Dave · Answer

If you were coughing up green phlegm it's usually a sign of an infection. You really need to see your doctor so he/she can evaluate what you need properly. You probably need antibiotics. 
Do it before this progresses into pneumonia!

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Why did my cough come back?

2 Answers