Mataracy
VIP Contributor
..A cough is a reflex mechanism to expel irritants, foreign material and secretion from the respiratory tract.
It is a protective mechanisms.Elderly or debilitated patients with bronchopneumonia may be too feeble to cough adequately and the smaller bronchioles become clogged with thick secretions which they are unable to expel; Physiotherapy and suction by a pump may be required to clear the airway.
On the other hand, a cough mat be due to the irritation of the mucous membrane lining the upper respiratory tract and serves no useful purpose since there is nothing to cough up.
A dry cough of this sort may keep the patient awake and cause needless distress; a cough suppressant medicine may be prescribed in such cases.
A productive cough is one in which sputum is brought up and waxed cartons with screw tops are provided for the collection of sputum by the bedside.
These cartons, which are easily destroyed by burning,allow inspection of the sputum and this provides valuable information as to the nature of the respiratory illness.
The nature and the amount of sputum coughed up should be noted. When infection is minimal, the sputum is usually mucoid: it is clear, viscid and not profuse. When infection is present, the sputum becomes purulent: it may be very profuse and foetid(foul smelling), as occurs in bronchiectasis or lung abscess or it may form round blobs,the so called nummulae sputum of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Coughing up blood is called hemoptysis and isvseen particularly in pulmonary tuberculosis and in bronchial carcinoma, due to the rupture of small vessels in the affected area.
More common than pure blood is sputum with streaks of blood in it sue to inflammation of the bronchial wall and sometimes to the strain of coughing.
Sputum may be sentvto the laboratory foevrwo important investigations.
(1) It will be examined and cultured for bacteria so that the nature of the infection can be determined and, if need be,appropriate antibiotic prescribed.
(2) it cab be examined microscopically to see if malignant cells are present as a test for bronchial carcinoma.
All thesebarw the nature of cough and sputum.
You can add your own idea it will be very welcome.
It is a protective mechanisms.Elderly or debilitated patients with bronchopneumonia may be too feeble to cough adequately and the smaller bronchioles become clogged with thick secretions which they are unable to expel; Physiotherapy and suction by a pump may be required to clear the airway.
On the other hand, a cough mat be due to the irritation of the mucous membrane lining the upper respiratory tract and serves no useful purpose since there is nothing to cough up.
A dry cough of this sort may keep the patient awake and cause needless distress; a cough suppressant medicine may be prescribed in such cases.
A productive cough is one in which sputum is brought up and waxed cartons with screw tops are provided for the collection of sputum by the bedside.
These cartons, which are easily destroyed by burning,allow inspection of the sputum and this provides valuable information as to the nature of the respiratory illness.
The nature and the amount of sputum coughed up should be noted. When infection is minimal, the sputum is usually mucoid: it is clear, viscid and not profuse. When infection is present, the sputum becomes purulent: it may be very profuse and foetid(foul smelling), as occurs in bronchiectasis or lung abscess or it may form round blobs,the so called nummulae sputum of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Coughing up blood is called hemoptysis and isvseen particularly in pulmonary tuberculosis and in bronchial carcinoma, due to the rupture of small vessels in the affected area.
More common than pure blood is sputum with streaks of blood in it sue to inflammation of the bronchial wall and sometimes to the strain of coughing.
Sputum may be sentvto the laboratory foevrwo important investigations.
(1) It will be examined and cultured for bacteria so that the nature of the infection can be determined and, if need be,appropriate antibiotic prescribed.
(2) it cab be examined microscopically to see if malignant cells are present as a test for bronchial carcinoma.
All thesebarw the nature of cough and sputum.
You can add your own idea it will be very welcome.
