Guiding Questions
In this blog we’re going to be investigating what the doctor does about your mucus during a check-up. A lot of people don’t know what doctors are looking for, and they have questions like:
- What does the color of my mucus mean?
- Why did the doctor take a sample of my mucus?
What Is Mucus?
Mucus is a slippery, protective fluid made of water, proteins, salts, and immune cells. Mucus is found in the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems. It is made by special cells in these systems that release proteins to turn water into mucus. Let’s learn about the functions of mucus and later focus on mucus in the lungs and nose.
- Protection: Firstly, mucus traps pathogens (viruses, bacteria) and particles (dust, smoke) to prevent them from reaching your lungs.
- Lubrication And Moisturization: Mucus keeps body linings moist and helps food, oxygen, and other substances move smoothly
- Immune Defense: Mucus can contain antimicrobial enzymes, antibodies, and immune cells to destroy invaders.
- Cell Support: Finally, mucus helps to maintain a healthy environment for beneficial bacteria and supports communication between cells.
The Colors Of Mucus
Mucus can take on different colors from clear to brown. Each color signifies the state of the body. Sometimes a change in color can be harmless, while other times it might indicate medical attention.
- Clear: Indicates healthy mucus. Allergies and other irritants can make an excess of clear mucus.
- White/Light Yellow: When your mucus gets dense and appears white or creamy, it usually means you’re fighting a cold or other viral infection. The color and thickness come from immune cells fighting the infection.
- Bright Or Dark Yellow/Green: This indicates infection. Based on your other symptoms and how long they’ve gone on, it could mean you have a bacterial infection.
- Red/Pink: A red or pink color indicates blood in your mucus. If your nose is dried out or irritated, small blood vessels in your nose can burst and leak blood. Red mucus from the lungs, not nose, could indicate early lung cancer or dangerous blood clots.
- Brown: Smoking, toxins, or dirt in the air can cause brown mucus. It also could be a sign of infection.
- Black: This color of mucus indicates a severe type of fungal infection.
Sputum Culture Testing
Sputum is another word for mucus coughed up from the lungs. The doctor will typically request a sputum culture test if they suspect an infection of the lungs. Let’s see how this test works.
- 1: The patient’s mouth is rinsed with water
- 2: The patient then coughs deeply into a special container to collect sputum
- 3: The sputum sample is sent to a lab and put in a special dish that contains a substance that allows bacteria to grow quickly
- 4: After a few days to weeks, the lab analyzes the bacteria growing in the dish to figure out what is infecting the patient
- 5: Due to the test, the doctor now knows if the patient has an infection, and if the patient is infected, the knowledge of the type of bacteria can allow the doctor to provide the patient with the best course of treatment.
Review
Here are some questions to review your knowledge about mucus.
- What do special cells produce to make mucus? Proteins
- Allergies can produce an excess of what color mucus? Clear
- Black mucus can indicate what type of infection? Fungal Infection
- Where is the sputum culture tested? In A Lab
DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The blog post and everything contained on it is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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