What gives mucus color when you're sick?

Spanky

well...... I know this is a disgusting question but I had a cold the other day and I was just wondering.....

Ira

It's a good thing I'm used to you.

In the airways, mucus are synthesized and secreted by goblet cells and from submucosal glands along the respiratory tract. Mucous cells secrete mucins, while serous cells secrete most of the other constituents of mucous, including IgA, antiproteases, proteases and fluid. Secretion of mucus components from serous and mucous cells is induced by a variety of stimuli including acetylcholine, arachadonic acid, prostaglandins, histamine and neutrophil elastase. Illness affects these factors, causing them to change the mucus characteristics. Gets?

mrf

Spanky: Diba u wanted to get into DLSU Med even if u already hav a slot in UE...was wondering if u got in( DLSU)?

Calypso

hi Spanky! I recall my pediatrician telling me back in third grade that the darker the color of your sipon is, the better. This means that you're closer on your way to recovery. Is this true, Doc I? I seem to think so. When my sipon is purely transparent, it takes longer to heal than when it's off-white. Am I bordering on the disgusting as well?

[This message has been edited by Calypso (edited 08-31-2000).]

Ira

Medyo nabaligtad yata, Calypso. When your sipon is colorless, it's usually just viral, and it will go away in a few days. When it's purulent, greenish, bluish, or whatnot, it may already be a sign of bacterial infection.

maxinegirl

ira, are you a physician?

Ira

Yes.

Calypso

Originally posted by Ira:
Medyo nabaligtad yata, Calypso. When your sipon is colorless, it's usually just viral, and it will go away in a few days. When it's purulent, greenish, bluish, or whatnot, it may already be a sign of bacterial infection.

Heeyipes! Really?!? Oh well... almost all the time, mine is colorless so I guess I'm safe... you're kidding about mucus being bluish, right??!?? How can anyone have blue sipon!?!?

Ira

Naku, I had the opportunity to handle na a couple of patients na with blue-green phlegm. Oh, yummy. They were immunocompromised, old patients, and the bacterial yield turned out to be a super-strong bacterium, Proteus sp..