What could be the cause of persistent phlegm without cough or flu symptoms, and how can it be treated?

Doctor's Answers 1

The source of phlegm can be from conditions from the nose, lungs and stomach.

Common causes include:

1. Nose & sinuses - Common cold, Allergic Rhinitis (sensitive nose), Sinusitis (sinus infection) etc

2. Lungs - bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs), pneumonia (infection of the lungs), smoker's lungs etc

3. Stomach - acid reflux from the stomach

4. Dehydration

One of the most common reason for phlegm in the throat that I see in my practice is postnasal drip (mucous flowing down from the back of the nose down to the throat).

Quite often, patients with postnasal drip may not be aware of it and may deny any nose symptoms. Your mother can visit a General Practitioner first to help determine the likely source of her phlegm. If she does not have symptoms in the chest/lungs, she can visit an ENT Specialist for an assessment.

Hope this helps and all the best!

Similar Questions

How do I get rid of a persistent cough?

Cough is a reflex that protects your upper airway from foreign materials and irritants. However, when persistent, it can be a troublesome symptom. The cause of a chronic or prolonged cough can range from conditions arising from the nose (e. g. Rhinitis and Sinusitis), stomach (e. g. acid reflux from the stomach to the throat, medically known as Laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR) and lungs (e. g. Asthma, Bronchitis etc) to side effects from medications (e. g. blood pressure medications) and smoking.

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Answered By

Dr Eng Cern Gan

ENT Doctor

Are there any symptomatic treatments to help a persistent cough in an 8 year-old?

Thank you for your question. Cough is a reflex meant to protect your airway from an irritant (e. g. mucous, foreign bodies or virus/bacteria). When persistent, it is usually a symptom of a condition. A cough lasting longer than 8 weeks is called chronic cough. Common causes of chronic cough in children include problems arising from the nose and sinuses (e. g. allergic rhinitis, sinusitis), lungs (e. g. asthma, bronchitis, foreign bodies) or stomach (acid reflux).

Photo of Dr Eng Cern Gan

Answered By

Dr Eng Cern Gan

ENT Doctor

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