Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Bronchorrhea is an excessive discharge of watery mucus from the lungs, more than normal phlegm, that results in a productive cough. A diagnosis is made when a person coughs up at least 100 cubic centimeters (cc) of fluid from their lungs daily, or about 20 teaspoons.

Bronchorrhea causes include lung cancer as among the most common.The excess mucus may be a symptom of bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and other conditions that affect the bronchi, the airway tubes that connect to your lungs.

This article discusses symptoms and causes of this condition. It explains bronchorrhea treatment that’s focused on the underlying cause of the mucus as well as the reduction of the secretions.

Science Photo Library / Getty Images

An older man with bad cough at the doctor’s office

Bronchorrhea Symptoms

Bronchorrhea is a symptom in whichlarge amounts of thin mucus are coughed up from a person’s lungs on a daily basis.This is not just a little drainage and can be a cause for concern. Bronchorrhea tends to be at its worst in the morning and often improves throughout the day.

Complications

Bronchorrhea and the excess mucus it causes are primarily a nuisance, though often a dramatic one. Still, it may result in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in the body. When severe, it may also result in airway obstruction and respiratory distress.

How Is Bronchorrhea Diagnosed?

Bronchorrhea Causes

There are several causes of bronchorrhea, though thankfully it is a fairly uncommon condition. Possible causes include chronic respiratory and lung diseases.

Lung Diseases

Chronic lung diseases can lead to symptoms of bronchorrhea. These conditions include:

What Is Bronchospastic Cough?With some conditions, the bronchi can tighten into a spasm. Thesebronchospasmsare common with asthma and COPD, and cause wheezes, shortness of breath, and cough. It is common for excess mucus from bronchorrhea to arise with a bronchospastic cough, often in people who smoke.

What Is Bronchospastic Cough?

With some conditions, the bronchi can tighten into a spasm. Thesebronchospasmsare common with asthma and COPD, and cause wheezes, shortness of breath, and cough. It is common for excess mucus from bronchorrhea to arise with a bronchospastic cough, often in people who smoke.

Lung Cancer

There is a form oflung cancerwhich in the past was calledmucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC). It is the most common cause of bronchorrhea.

BAC has now been reclassified as a form oflung adenocarcinomabut the symptom of excess phlegm is still the same for people living with the disease. With BAC, the incidence of bronchorrhea is estimated to be around 6%.

It is not uncommon for BAC, often with the excess mucus of bronchorrhea, to be mistaken for pneumonia or other lung diseases before it is diagnosed, sometimes for an extended period of time.

Infections

Tuberculosis has been associated with bronchorrhea, though this is less common in the United States.

Poisonings and Stings

Poisoning with chemicals known as organophosphates (anticholinesterase pesticides) is a serious cause of bronchorrhea.Scorpion stings may also be responsible.

Bronchorrhea Treatment

Mechanism

To understand the best treatment options, it’s important to note that bronchorrhea is different than coughing up phlegm. It’s believed that, for some reason, the airways become hyper-responsive to a particular stressor.

Medication

Several different treatment options may reduce the symptoms of bronchorrhea, though they appear to give only moderate relief. These treatment options include:

A Word From Verywell

Bronchorrhea is a relatively uncommon symptom in which large amounts of a watery discharge are coughed up from the lungs. It may occur with lung cancer, particularly some types, as well as other lung conditions. Since lung adenocarcinoma appears to be increasing, especially in young adults with lung cancer and people who have never smoked, it’s likely that this symptom will be on the rise.

Why is Lung Cancer Increasing in Never Smokers?

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rémi C, Rémi J, Bausewein C.Pharmacological management of bronchorrhea in malignant disease: a systematic literature review.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016;51(5):916-925. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.335Bhagat M, Singh A, Bazzi T, Green J.Bronchorrhea, a rare and debilitating symptom of lung cancer: case report and review of the treatment.JTO Clinical and Research Reports. 2022;3(10):100398. doi:10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100398Mahapatra S, Mangla L, Talwar D.Bronchial purging: atypical pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with bronchorrhea.Lung India. 2018;35(6):533. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_232_18Shankar PS, Korukonda K, Bendre S, et al.Diagnoses and management of adult cough: an Indian Environmental Medical Association (EMA) position paper.Respir Med. 2020 06;168:105949. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105949Eddleston M.Novel clinical toxicology and pharmacology of organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning.Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019;59(1):341-360. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021842Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014;47(4):814-818. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008Additional ReadingHa EVS, Rogers DF.Novel Therapies to Inhibit Mucus Synthesis and Secretion in Airway Hypersecretory Diseases.Pharmacology.2016. 97:84-100. doi:10.1159/000442794Leo F, Alexander L, Semper H, et al.Use of Anticholinergic and Antifungal Pharmacotherapy for the Management of Bronchorrhea in a Patient With BRAF-Mutated Adenocarcinoma of the Lung.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.2019. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.10.001Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ, et al.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014. 47(4):814-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008Popat N, Raghavan N, McIvor RA.Severe bronchorrhea in a patient with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.Chest. 2012. 141(2):513-4. doi:10.1378/chest.11-0956Rubin BK, Priftis KN, Schmidt HJ, Henke M).Secretory hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary mucus hypersecretion.Chest. 2014. 146(2):496-507. doi:10.1378/chest.13-2609

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rémi C, Rémi J, Bausewein C.Pharmacological management of bronchorrhea in malignant disease: a systematic literature review.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016;51(5):916-925. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.335Bhagat M, Singh A, Bazzi T, Green J.Bronchorrhea, a rare and debilitating symptom of lung cancer: case report and review of the treatment.JTO Clinical and Research Reports. 2022;3(10):100398. doi:10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100398Mahapatra S, Mangla L, Talwar D.Bronchial purging: atypical pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with bronchorrhea.Lung India. 2018;35(6):533. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_232_18Shankar PS, Korukonda K, Bendre S, et al.Diagnoses and management of adult cough: an Indian Environmental Medical Association (EMA) position paper.Respir Med. 2020 06;168:105949. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105949Eddleston M.Novel clinical toxicology and pharmacology of organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning.Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019;59(1):341-360. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021842Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014;47(4):814-818. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008Additional ReadingHa EVS, Rogers DF.Novel Therapies to Inhibit Mucus Synthesis and Secretion in Airway Hypersecretory Diseases.Pharmacology.2016. 97:84-100. doi:10.1159/000442794Leo F, Alexander L, Semper H, et al.Use of Anticholinergic and Antifungal Pharmacotherapy for the Management of Bronchorrhea in a Patient With BRAF-Mutated Adenocarcinoma of the Lung.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.2019. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.10.001Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ, et al.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014. 47(4):814-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008Popat N, Raghavan N, McIvor RA.Severe bronchorrhea in a patient with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.Chest. 2012. 141(2):513-4. doi:10.1378/chest.11-0956Rubin BK, Priftis KN, Schmidt HJ, Henke M).Secretory hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary mucus hypersecretion.Chest. 2014. 146(2):496-507. doi:10.1378/chest.13-2609

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rémi C, Rémi J, Bausewein C.Pharmacological management of bronchorrhea in malignant disease: a systematic literature review.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016;51(5):916-925. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.335Bhagat M, Singh A, Bazzi T, Green J.Bronchorrhea, a rare and debilitating symptom of lung cancer: case report and review of the treatment.JTO Clinical and Research Reports. 2022;3(10):100398. doi:10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100398Mahapatra S, Mangla L, Talwar D.Bronchial purging: atypical pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with bronchorrhea.Lung India. 2018;35(6):533. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_232_18Shankar PS, Korukonda K, Bendre S, et al.Diagnoses and management of adult cough: an Indian Environmental Medical Association (EMA) position paper.Respir Med. 2020 06;168:105949. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105949Eddleston M.Novel clinical toxicology and pharmacology of organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning.Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019;59(1):341-360. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021842Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014;47(4):814-818. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008

Rémi C, Rémi J, Bausewein C.Pharmacological management of bronchorrhea in malignant disease: a systematic literature review.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016;51(5):916-925. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.335

Bhagat M, Singh A, Bazzi T, Green J.Bronchorrhea, a rare and debilitating symptom of lung cancer: case report and review of the treatment.JTO Clinical and Research Reports. 2022;3(10):100398. doi:10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100398

Mahapatra S, Mangla L, Talwar D.Bronchial purging: atypical pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with bronchorrhea.Lung India. 2018;35(6):533. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_232_18

Shankar PS, Korukonda K, Bendre S, et al.Diagnoses and management of adult cough: an Indian Environmental Medical Association (EMA) position paper.Respir Med. 2020 06;168:105949. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105949

Eddleston M.Novel clinical toxicology and pharmacology of organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning.Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019;59(1):341-360. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021842

Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014;47(4):814-818. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008

Ha EVS, Rogers DF.Novel Therapies to Inhibit Mucus Synthesis and Secretion in Airway Hypersecretory Diseases.Pharmacology.2016. 97:84-100. doi:10.1159/000442794Leo F, Alexander L, Semper H, et al.Use of Anticholinergic and Antifungal Pharmacotherapy for the Management of Bronchorrhea in a Patient With BRAF-Mutated Adenocarcinoma of the Lung.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.2019. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.10.001Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ, et al.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014. 47(4):814-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008Popat N, Raghavan N, McIvor RA.Severe bronchorrhea in a patient with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.Chest. 2012. 141(2):513-4. doi:10.1378/chest.11-0956Rubin BK, Priftis KN, Schmidt HJ, Henke M).Secretory hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary mucus hypersecretion.Chest. 2014. 146(2):496-507. doi:10.1378/chest.13-2609

Ha EVS, Rogers DF.Novel Therapies to Inhibit Mucus Synthesis and Secretion in Airway Hypersecretory Diseases.Pharmacology.2016. 97:84-100. doi:10.1159/000442794

Leo F, Alexander L, Semper H, et al.Use of Anticholinergic and Antifungal Pharmacotherapy for the Management of Bronchorrhea in a Patient With BRAF-Mutated Adenocarcinoma of the Lung.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.2019. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.10.001

Pahuja M, Shepherd RW, Lyckholm LJ, et al.The use of octreotide to manage symptoms of bronchorrhea: a case report.Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2014. 47(4):814-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.008

Popat N, Raghavan N, McIvor RA.Severe bronchorrhea in a patient with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.Chest. 2012. 141(2):513-4. doi:10.1378/chest.11-0956

Rubin BK, Priftis KN, Schmidt HJ, Henke M).Secretory hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary mucus hypersecretion.Chest. 2014. 146(2):496-507. doi:10.1378/chest.13-2609

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