Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing them to become irritated and inflamed. The main symptom is a cough, which may bring up yellow-grey mucus (phlegm).
Yellow phlegm is a sign that your body is fighting off a mild infection. "White blood cells are responsible for fighting infections, and as they get picked up in the mucus, they can cause it to have a yellowish hue," says Dr. Kreel.
One of the first signs of a cold is green or yellow mucus. It's no reason for concern, and in fact, it means your body is working extra hard to fight off infection. White blood cells rush to battle infection, and when they've done their job, they get flushed out of the body along with the virus.
After 2 or 3 days, mucus may change to a white, yellow, or green color. This is normal and does not mean you need an antibiotic. Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days. Those symptoms should improve over time.
Small amounts of white mucus may be coughed up if the bronchitis is viral. If the color of the mucus changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also set in. The cough is usually the last symptom to clear up and may last for weeks.
Signs and symptoms of a chest infection
coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood.
Days 3 to 5: Cough and More Nasal Congestion
Nasal symptoms continue to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may notice that mucus from your runny nose has become thicker, with a yellow or green tinge.
If you are coughing green or yellow mucus, let your GP or health care provider know. If you are coughing up blood (or blood stained mucus), call your GP, the COVID-19 Care at Home Support Line or Healthdirect for further advice.
Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)
We're often told – even by doctors – that green or yellow secretions indicate you're infectious. But this isn't true. It's unclear how this myth arose, but it's likely a misunderstanding of the appearance and colour of pus.
Sinusitis means infection or inflammation of the sinuses, which are air-filled spaces inside the bones of the face. Symptoms include yellow or green-coloured mucus draining from the nose, facial pain and headache.
Yellow mucus
This can mean a cold or infection that's progressing. The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working to fight it off. “Yellow or green snot can sometimes mean that you have an infection,” Dr. Sindwani says.
Yellow mucus can indicate a bacterial infection in the nasal passages. This type of infection often requires antibiotics to clear up. If the yellow color is accompanied by thick and discolored nasal discharge, it may be a sign of a sinus infection.
Green and cloudy: viral or bacterial infection
A lot of the symptoms of viral infections – fever, cough, headache, loss of smell – overlap for COVID-19 and other viral infections like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold. That's why COVID-19 testing and seeing a doctor is so important.
Does coughing up mucus mean you're getting better? In most cases, coughing up mucus means your body is working to fight off an infection, and it is in the healing stages. Drink plenty of fluids to help thin the mucus.
Dark Green or Yellow
This color often indicates a worsening infection. If you notice dark green mucus, especially in conjunction with fever, coughing, and sneezing, you should contact a doctor to get your symptoms treated.
Changes in mucus color, from clear to white to yellow to green, are part of the normal course of an illness. It's a sign that your immune system is fighting to get better. Pink, red, orange, or brown snot, on the other hand, is typically not from an illness.
White / clear: This is the normal colour of phlegm. phlegm may be brownish in colour. to the darkest, indicates that you have an active chest infection. This means that a visit to your GP would be advisable as antibiotics and / or steroids may be needed.
The most common symptoms of bronchitis are: Runny, stuffy nose. Low-grade fever. Chest congestion.
Most infections that lead to green phlegm are viral and usually resolve without treatment within a few weeks. The phlegm often changes back to white after a few days. If this does not occur over a prolonged time, this may indicate a bacterial infection.
Flu Complications
An irritating, dry, painful cough that starts to produce small amounts of white or light yellow sputum after two or three days; at this stage the fever often recedes, and the pain from coughing diminishes. If your sputum is yellow-green or green in color, you may have a bacterial infection.