11. Changes in Mucus
One of the telltale signs of the development of chronic bronchitis is changes in mucus. Your phlegm may start to turn from a transparent color to a yellowish-tinge. By the third day, your mucus will have a green color, and should the condition persist, due to the affected individual developing chronic bronchitis, the mucus will start to turn dark green or brown.
This change sign of bacterial infection, and you’ll need to visit your doctor for treatment with antibiotics to clear the infection and return your lungs to health. However, those individuals that smoke cigarettes during this period of infection may find that their mucus continues to shift in color and consistency.
The mucus may become robust and clumpy, and as coughing symptoms persist, the patient may cough their throat raw, resulting in tiny tears in the esophagus. This effect occurs due to blood entering the mucus, and blood may accompany the thick phlegm. As the condition progresses, the patient may develop pneumonia, and the phlegm will continue to emerge as brown, with specks of blood.