My Son's Tonsillitis and Yellow Phlegm – Is It Spreading?

This post is a dramatization of a question and answer session experienced by our actual medical reviewers.

Q: Hello, healthcare professionals! My son was just diagnosed with tonsillitis and started a 5-day course of phenoxymethylpenicillin yesterday afternoon. He's had a cough for a few weeks, which his doctor said wasn't a concern for his chest. But yesterday, he started coughing up and spitting out thick, yellow phlegm. I'm really worried the infection might have spread to his lungs, especially since he's had pneumonia in March and again last New Year's Eve, even though his chest was reported clear both times. Should he see a doctor for this, or will the antibiotics handle it? He spat it into the sink, so excuse the bits as I had just drained something. 😥

A: I completely understand your concern. The yellow phlegm your son is coughing up is most likely your body's way of responding to the throat infection (tonsillitis). The antibiotics he's on should definitely help clear up the infection causing his sore throat, but it might take a few days for the phlegm to lessen.

Generally, as long as he doesn’t develop a fever, difficulty breathing, or increased fatigue, this isn't usually something to be too worried about. Since his chest was clear during his last doctor's visit, it's less likely that the infection has spread to his lungs.

Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids and gets lots of rest. If his symptoms get worse, or if you notice any new, concerning signs, it's always best to follow up with his doctor. For now, it sounds like he's on the right path to recovery.

For extra peace of mind and clear guidance when tracking your child's symptoms, the FeverCoach app is always there to help.

iOS - AppStore, Android - Google Play

https://fevercoach.us