Mucus

Yellow phlegm can be a sign that a person has an underlying infection or illness. This illness may cause a person with asthma's symptoms to become worse. A person with asthma should be conscious of the color of their phlegm, as certain colors may mean they should contact a doctor. They should also monitor their asthma symptoms closely. Phlegm is a thick mucus that is sometimes known as sputum and is different from saliva. People cough up phlegm from their lungs. The body can produce excess phlegm when a person has certain illnesses. Different illnesses and conditions can cause the phlegm to become different colors. This article will explain the possible causes of yellow phlegm in people with asthma. It will give treatment options for these causes and advise when a person should contact a doctor. Some people with asthma produce excess phlegm, but yellow phlegm could be a sign of infection. Phlegm production of any color can be a sign that the person's airways are becoming inflam...

If you've been feeling sick and have a cough you can't shake, you may have acute bronchitis, also called a chest cold. In most cases, antibiotics aren't recommended, but in some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics for bronchitis. Treatment of bronchitis with antibiotics depends on what is causing the infection and on the patient themselves. Read on to find out more about how to treat bronchitis and the medicines used. Bronchitis Basics  Acute bronchitis is characterized by infection of the bronchi, the tubes that lead to your lungs. When they get infected, the tubes swell up and start producing protective mucus that triggers coughing. Bacteria or a virus can cause this infection, thus bronchitis treatments vary based on the cause. They also vary based on the individual patient. In the United States, researchers believe that viruses cause about 90% of cases of acute bronchitis. Viral bronchitis is caused by the sa...

A s the Delta variant surged through the US this summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adjusted its definition of a close contact for students in classrooms—that is, for who would be contacted and urged to quarantine if they'd been near someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. Last school year, any child within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period needed to quarantine. This school year, with little fanfare, the CDC reduced this distance to 3 feet in classrooms, as long as both students consistently wore well-fitting masks. (If they didn't, or if either person was an adult, or if the contact happened anywhere in the school other than the classroom, the 6-foot rule still applies.)  This may not seem like a major shift, but in practice, it's likely to mean that most kids who spent one or more school days in the same room as an infected classmate won't be asked to quarantine or test. As New Yor...

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective tissues and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It commonly occurs in children and adults, though young children are more susceptible to the infection. Many viruses, bacteria, and fungi cause meningitis in children. With timely medical attention, meningitis in children is fully treatable and curable. A severe infection or delayed diagnosis, however, can be life threatening and cause long-term effects. As scientists advance in their understanding of meningitis, they have developed several vaccines that offer protection against the disease. Examples include the meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and pneumococcal vaccines. Keep reading to learn more about meningitis in children, including the causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Children can develop meningitis from close contact with a person who has the infection or through surfaces and inanimate objects infected with the germ that causes meningitis. A simple c...

Getty Images When the temperature begins to drop, respiratory illnesses like cold and flu start to rise. So now is the time of year to take inventory of what's in your medicine cabinet and stock up on the essentials to avoid any last-minute trips to the store if you get sick.  One thing to keep in mind: While a number of over-the-counter remedies can bring relief to the bothersome symptoms that accompany seasonal illnesses, it's important to touch base with your health care provider when you start to feel sick, says Paul O'Rourke, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University...

We've had two light years in a row, which some experts worry could mean we'll be in for a rough few months. One silver lining of the last two winters is that the flu, which typically sends hundreds of thousands of Americans to the hospital each year and causes tens of thousands of deaths, was not as severe as it has been in years past. When compared with average flu seasons, said Peter Palese, a microbiologist and flu expert at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, there were just 1 percent as many infections, hospitalizations and deaths from influenza last season. But when compared with last fall, life is more back to normal — kids are in classrooms, workers are in offices and more people are planning to travel over the holidays. This is raising questions about how bad this flu season could get. To help you prepare and know what to expect, we asked two infectious disease physicians, a microbiologist and a pediatrician to weigh in. Here's what you ne...

Mercy & Truth hosting flu shot clinics this weekend Mercy & Truth Medical Missions, a nonprofit based in Shawnee, is hosting an event with flu shot clinic and free giveaways ahead of the cold weather and holiday season. In partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Aetna, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and Rotary International, the Shawnee clinic will give out 200 free turkeys and 200 free hoodies, and administer 200 free flu shots while supplies last. COVID-19 vaccines will also be available. The event takes place at the following locations and times: Mercy & Truth Clinic 721 N. 31st St., Kansas City, KS 66102 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Westbrooke Shopping Center 7405 Quivira Road, Shawnee, KS 66214 1-4 p.m. Shops of Prairie Village, Corinth Square to celebrate Halloween The Shops of Prairie Village and Corinth Square will celebrate Halloween on Oct. 3o. Families are invited to trick or treat at either s...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Best cold medicine    WFLA

Getty Images When the temperature begins to drop, respiratory illnesses like cold and flu start to rise. So now is the time of year to take inventory of what's in your medicine cabinet and stock up on the essentials to avoid any last-minute trips to the store if you get sick.  One thing to keep in mind: While a number of over-the-counter remedies can bring relief to the bothersome symptoms that accompany seasonal illnesses, it's important to touch base with your health care provider when you start to feel sick, says Paul O'Rourke, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University...