Question
How to deal with coughing up phlegm but unable to expel it?
Answer
When coughing is accompanied by a large amount of phlegm that cannot be expelled, it may be due to inflammation of the throat, trachea, or bronchi caused by viral or bacterial infection. This condition is common in flu or common cold, where patients may experience high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, runny eyes, general malaise, and some may also have loss of appetite. Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment may include antiviral medications such as ribavirin and ganciclovir, combined with antibiotics and antipyretic analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs like penicillin, cephalosporins, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. For patients with excessive histamine secretion, antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine may be needed, while ephedrine can help relieve nasal congestion. When treating coughs, the appropriate medication should be chosen based on the degree of infection and symptoms. In most cases, as the virus or bacterial infection recovers, cough symptoms will gradually diminish. However, if the cough persists and is severe, it is recommended to stop using lung-cleaning medications and switch to drugs with a cooling blood effect, such as Chuan Bei Xue Yang Gao (Chuan Bei Snow Pear Syrup), to promote phlegm expulsion and thus alleviate cough symptoms. At the same time, avoid overusing antibiotics and consider a chest X-ray to rule out other diseases.