Frothy sputum is generally a symptom of some form of respiratory distress. Frothing occurs when phlegm or mucus in the lungs combines with fluid and air. The excess is then coughed up by the patient and expectorated. This symptom is present in several serious conditions such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, tuberculosis, and even plague.
A pink frothy sputum is often associated with congestive heart failure, which happens when one or both sides of the heart no longer pump efficiently. Many different conditions cause this, including cardiomyopathy, hypertension, or narrowing of the arteries. Blood backs up into organs and causes congestion and damage through low oxygen levels. Increased pressure in the lungs forces tiny drops of blood through the alveoli or air sacs. The blood mixes with accumulated fluids and is coughed up.
Pulmonary edema is also associated with pink frothy sputum. It is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs that causes difficulty breathing. Heart failure, pneumonia, and high altitude are some causes of pulmonary edema. A gradual buildup of fluid brings on symptoms slowly, but it can also appear rapidly. Acute pulmonary edema can be fatal if not treated immediately.
A less common cause of pink frothy sputum is plague, a severe bacterial infection caused by an organism called Yersinia pestis. Plague is spread by the bites of infected fleas found on rodents. Most people who contract plague get the bubonic form, which settles in the lymph nodes, and causes swellings called buboes. If the disease turns pneumonic, a plague victim will cough up bloody sputum, spreading the bacteria through the air. During epidemics, such as the European Black Death in the 1300s, plague spread rapidly in this fashion.
Thick and rusty, greenish, or yellow sputum is normally associated with pneumonia. A person with pneumonia will be very sick, feverish, have chest pain, and exhibit a deep cough that produces phlegm. Diagnosis takes place when a doctor listening through a stethoscope hears a crackling in the lungs, called rales, and may follow up with a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is treated with antibiotics or antiviral medications depending on the cause. Serious cases often require hospitalization.
White sputum is indicative of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can infect any part of the body, but is most common in the lungs. Patients experience chest pain, night sweats and a persistent cough that eventually produces frothy white sputum. This disease is especially worrisome because certain strains have developed resistance to antibiotics and are very hard to cure. Anyone with HIV infection is at high risk for developing tuberculosis.
Anyone experiencing symptoms severe enough to include frothy sputum should seek medical attention promptly. Respiratory problems can be extremely serious if left untreated. Both plague and pneumonia respond well to antibiotics if caught early. People with medical conditions that compromise their immunity should monitor symptoms with care and do what they can to prevent infections.
