Lemon-colored phlegm

Introduction Citrine sputum is common in simple pulmonary eosinophilia. Simple pulmonary eosinophilia was first reported by Loffler in 1932, so it is also known as Loffler syndrome. It is characterized by mild systemic symptoms, a transient lung shadow on the X-ray, and blood eosinophilia. The course of disease is 2 to 4 weeks, also known as acute pulmonary eosinophilia. Patients may have a history of personal or family allergies.

Cause

(1) Causes of the disease

There are many causes, mainly parasitic infections and drug-induced allergies. Allergies to larvae of mites occur more than 2 weeks after infection, and allergens of mites can cause positive skin reactions. In addition, infections such as hookworms, roundworms, filars, trichinella, whipworms, liver flukes of amoeba, and Schistosoma japonicum can also produce the same response.

Drugs such as aspirin, various sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, penicillin, and methotrexate can cause allergic reactions. There are also allergies to inhaled pollen and fungal spores.

Recently, there have been reports of this disease due to nickel. The disease is associated with type I allergies, and type III allergies can also be involved.

(two) pathogenesis

Mainly for the temporary allergic reaction in the lungs, the alveoli are filled with exudate, a large number of eosinophils and foreign body macrophages, rarely involving blood vessels, and there are white blood cells around the blood vessels.

an examination

Related inspection

Sputum pathogen examination

The disease can be asymptomatic, only found on X-ray examination; if symptoms are also very mild, the most common symptoms are cough, a small amount of sticky or a small amount of lemon sputum, occasional blood stasis, sputum contains eosinophils cell. In addition, there are headaches, fatigue, upper respiratory catarrh symptoms, night sweats, chest pain, etc., generally no fever, if there is low fever, occasionally high fever and wheezing, often return to normal within 1 to 2 days. Clinical examination can be without any signs, rarely heard a small amount of dry and wet sounds, even can be diagnosed with dullness, symptoms and signs often disappear in the short term, rarely more than two weeks.

Mainly based on mild symptoms, X-ray chest radiographs have a transient migratory shadow, elevated eosinophils in the blood, short course of disease can be self-healing and other characteristics to make a diagnosis. In the case of aphid infection, eggs are found in the feces 2 to 3 months after the onset of symptoms.

Differential diagnosis

Different diseases represented by different traits can be roughly divided into the following types:

White viscous sputum: mostly transparent sputum or slightly white, thin, usually caused by cold or mild bronchitis, healthy human body will also have a small amount of white sputum.

Yellow purulent sputum: due to pulmonary purulent infection, usually secondary infection caused by pneumonia, bronchitis, lung abscess or bronchiectasis, relatively thicker than white visceral sputum inflammation.

Yellow-green cockroach: caused by a special kind of bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The appearance of this color should go to the hospital as soon as possible to find out the cause.

Rust-like sputum: The sputum of the lobar pneumonia is rust-like, with symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and chest pain, mostly caused by pneumococci, staphylococcus and pneumonia.

Bloody sputum: bloody sputum can be divided into several situations: one is with red bloodshot in the sputum, more common in tuberculosis or bronchiectasis, sometimes this can occur when there is inflammation in the pharynx; the second is black blood sputum, more common in Pulmonary infarction; third, pink foamy sputum, found in pulmonary edema. In addition, if you have blood in the long-term sputum or accompanied by symptoms of chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss, be alert to the occurrence of lung cancer.

Jam-like sputum: suggesting parasitic diseases of the lungs, such as paragonimiasis; this is also the case with amoebic lung abscesses. Go to the hospital for a blood test to find out the cause.

Gray or black : Excessive dust inhalation can cough up gray sputum, long-term exposure to toner, coal foam, lime, etc. can cause pneumoconiosis.

Odor: When the lungs are infected with anaerobic bacteria, the coughing smell will be very stinky.

Brick red jelly-like sputum: Tips for pneumonia bacilli pneumonia, generally less common.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.