Why the phlegm is still producing?

[YvonneXuan]

When I took the antibiotics, my phlegm is white. After finishing the antibiotics, 2 or 3 days later, my phlegm sometimes became slightly yellowish or greenish and the white phlegm is still there. So, i took another course of antibiotics and these repeated. Overall I have took 4 course of antibiotics medication in 3 months times.

Now, my phlegm is still sometimes slightly yellowish or greenish probably in the morning after I took breakfast. Then, during the day it is white in colour. Why the phlegm is still there eventhough I took so many course of antibiotics? Is there a viral or virus infection?
How do I cure this?

Note: Before this sickness started, I cleaned a room full with books and newspapers that are quite dusty. Then my throat start to itchy with flu and cough. But, the phlegm is still remained..

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

There are a couple possibilities.  The antibiotic(s) you’ve taken may have been strong enough to suppress the infection but not strong enough or not taken for a long enough course of treatment, to completely eradicate the bacteria causing infection producing the discolored phlegm.  Another possibility is that wherever the presumed infection is, upper respirator (sinuses) or lower respiratory tract (the lungs), it is not draining well, or at least not well enough to prevent a few left-over bacteria to multiply, once the antibiotic was discontinued.

And there are other possibilities.  If you smoke or are regularly exposed to a lot of second hand smoke, that could do it.

Another possibility is that the colored phlegm is from both an allergic and an infectious cause.

Finally you could simply have a chronic lung condition, for example chronic bronchitis or a disease called bronchiectasis with which one has long-standing “pockets” of infection, within the lungs.

You state: “ Before this sickness started, I cleaned a room full with books and newspapers that are quite dusty. Then my throat start to itchy with flu and cough. But, the phlegm is still remained..”   This may offer the best clue.  There may be something in that room included with the dust, stirred-up by your cleaning, that has caused either an infection or an allergic reaction and the fact that your symptoms persist is because of continuing higher concentrations (in the air and all surfaces) of what is causing your problem.  You may have to get someone else to do another cleaning, what is called a “deep cleaning”.


The bottom line is that you should work with your doctor to find both the cause of and the location (in your body) of the source of the mucous.  You should have, at minimum, a Chest X-ray and a sputum culture.  Based on your history and physical findings, your doctor may want to order additional tests.

Good luck

[YvonneXuan]

Thank you very much Dr. David for your answer..
Appreciate it! God bless.. =)