- Chronic Cough with Sputum
Persistent coughing may indicate pneumonia. A cough may be a sign of a cold or other infection, but a painful, persistent cough that does not go away may indicate pneumonia. As a person’s airways become more inflamed as a result of pneumonia, the accompanying cough can be extremely painful.
If you have a cough that lasts for more than a week, you should see your doctor for a chest x-ray and diagnosis. Consistent with a persistent cough is coughing up sputum. Indicative of an infection, the mucus will likely be green or yellow in color.
Occasionally, when coughing up mucous, you may observe the presence of blood. This is a clear indication that something is wrong, and you should consult a physician about your persistent cough and the presence of blood in the sputum you have been coughing up.
