sputum

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Classification according to ICD-10
R09.- Other symptoms affecting the circulatory and respiratory systems
R09.3 Abnormal sputum
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

As sputum (also eject or expectorate ), the coughed secretion of airway mucosa and admixed cells , respectively.

In the cytological examination, these cells can be further differentiated into white blood cells , epithelial cells , and in bronchial carcinoma also as malignant cells. In addition, the sputum can also be mixed with saliva , food residues , dust , smoke particles, pathogens , pus and, in the case of a coughing up of blood , with blood .

Sputum can be used for the detection and investigation of diseases, especially bronchial and lung diseases, such as pneumonia , acute or exacerbation of chronic bronchitis or for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and tumor formations of the lower respiratory tract .

Pathological sputum on tissue paper

Extraction for ejection studies

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see. also disk.

The extraction of morning sputum by the patient himself is less stressful for him, but it can easily lead to contamination with germs from the nasopharynx .

diagnosis

The color of the sputum indicates possible causes:

  • Yellow-green ( purulent sputum ): It may be a purulent, acute bacterial infection.
  • White: A more viral infection can be the reason.
  • White and frothy: evidence of pulmonary congestion up to edema .
  • grayish: bacterial infection is healing, often with pneumonia.
  • brownish: Most likely old blood, can be harmless.

These statements should not be overstated. In a study with patients suffering from acute bronchitis, for example, it was found that only in 22 of 136 cases of yellow or green discolored sputa were actually bacterial pathogens detectable. With a strong cough, the bronchial mucous membrane is damaged over time, it is then normal that there are a few small “threads” of blood in the sputum.

literature

  • Joachim Frey : Diseases of the respiratory organs. In: Ludwig Heilmeyer (ed.): Textbook of internal medicine. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1955; 2nd edition ibid. 1961, pp. 599-746, here: pp. 624 f. ( Ejection studies ).

Web links

Wiktionary: ejection  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ In the case of purulent sputum and severe dyspnea, antibiotics are necessary. In: AerzteZeitung.de . October 19, 2004, accessed August 17, 2020 .
  2. ↑ CC Butler, MJ Kelly et al. a .: Antibiotic prescribing for discolored sputum in acute cough / lower respiratory tract infection. In: European Respiratory Journal. 38, 2011, pp. 119-125, doi: 10.1183 / 09031936.00133910 .
  3. ↑ Marlinde Lehmann: Even yellow or greenish sputum is no reason to take antibiotics straight away . In: AerzteZeitung.de. November 22, 2010, accessed August 17, 2020 .
  4. ↑ A. Altiner, S. Wilm u. a .: Sputum color for diagnosis of a bacterial infection in patients with acute cough. In: Scandinavian journal of primary health care. Volume 27, number 2, 2009, pp. 70-73, doi : 10.1080 / 02813430902759663 , PMID 19242860 , PMC 3410464 (free full text).