Symptoms A-Z
Coughing Up a Watery Substance Symptom, Causes & Questions
Understand your coughing up a watery substance symptoms, including 7 causes & common questions.
This symptom can also be referred to as: clear mucus from cough
Updated on
Reviewed by the Buoy Medical Review Team

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Contents
7 Possible Coughing Up A Watery Substance Causes
The list below shows results from the use of our quiz by Buoy users who experienced coughing up a watery substance. This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammatory reaction to an infection in the airways. Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a viral infection, although some cases may be due to a bacterial infection.
Symptoms include an acute-onset cough with or without sputum production, low-grade fever,(https://www.buoyhealth.com/symptoms-a-z/shortness-of-breath/), and noisy breathing.
The diagnosis is made clinically, although testing may be ordered to rule out other conditions.
Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms and may include over-the-counter painkillers, cough suppressants, and expectorants. Although antibiotics are often prescribed, antibiotics have been shown to provide no benefit in most cases of acute bronchitis and are associated with an increased risk of side effects.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: cough, productive cough, sore throat, wheezing, coughing up green or yellow phlegm
Symptoms that always occur with bronchitis: cough
Symptoms that never occur with bronchitis: nausea or vomiting
Urgency: Self-treatment
Smoking-induced cough
The airways are lined with tiny cells called cilia, whose function is to catch toxins in air that is inhaled and push them up towards the mouth. When smoke is inhaled, the cilia are paralyzed for a short while, so toxins are allowed to enter the lungs and create inflammation. During the night, the cilia repair themselves and begin to push up all the accumulated mucus and toxins, causing an increase in cough in the morning.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: cough
Symptoms that always occur with smoking-induced cough: cough
Symptoms that never occur with smoking-induced cough: fever
Urgency: Self-treatment
Acid reflux disease (gerd)
Acid reflux disease, also known as GERD, occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach come back up into the esophagus. The most common symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: nausea, sore throat, pain below the ribs, cough with dry or watery sputum, deep chest pain, behind the breast bone
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Coughing Up A Watery Substance Symptom Checker
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Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT deficiency) is an inherited condition that raises your risk for lung and liver disease. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein that protects the lungs. The liver makes it. If the AAT proteins aren't the right shape, they get stuck in the liver cells and can't reach the lungs.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, shortness of breath on exertion, coughing up a watery substance, yellow skin (jaundice)
Urgency: Primary care doctor
New-onset seasonal allergies
New-onset seasonal allergies, also called adult-onset seasonal allergies, are sensitivities to pollen, mold, and other irritants that cause nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and sore throat.
Seasonal allergies commonly begin in childhood but can start at any age, especially among those with a family history. Moving to a different geographic location may trigger the allergy in someone with a genetic predisposition. Anyone with asthma is more likely to experience adult-onset seasonal allergies.
Sometimes the symptoms are actually from "pregnancy rhinitis" – nasal congestion and sneezing due to the effects of pregnancy hormones on the nasal tissue.
A new-onset allergy is often thought to be a cold, but a cold will clear up without treatment. Allergies persist, never getting better or worse, and can interfere with quality of life.
Diagnosis is made by an allergist, who will use skin tests and blood tests.
There is no cure for seasonal allergies but the symptoms can be managed for greater comfort and relief. Antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays, and immunotherapy or "allergy shots" can be very effective.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: sore throat, congestion, cough with dry or watery sputum, mucous dripping in the back of the throat, fatigue
Symptoms that never occur with new-onset seasonal allergies: fever, yellow-green runny nose, chills, muscle aches
Urgency: Self-treatment
Chronic allergies
Allergies are an overreaction by the immune system to something that does not bother most other people. Many people who have allergies are sensitive to pollen, but other things such as dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and mold can also cause a reaction.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: fatigue, irritability, trouble sleeping, runny nose, congestion
Symptoms that never occur with chronic allergies: fever, yellow-green runny nose, chills, muscle aches
Urgency: Self-treatment
Bacterial pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by one of several different bacteria, often Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia is often contracted in hospitals or nursing homes.
Symptoms include fatigue, fever, chills, painful and difficult breathing, and cough that brings up mucus. Elderly patients may have low body temperature and confusion.
Pneumonia can be a medical emergency for very young children or those over age 65, as well as anyone with a weakened immune system or a chronic heart or lung condition. Emergency room is only needed for severe cases or for those with immune deficiency.
Diagnosis is made through blood tests and chest x-ray.
With bacterial pneumonia, the treatment is antibiotics. Be sure to finish all the medication, even if you start to feel better. Hospitalization may be necessary for higher-risk cases.
Some types of bacterial pneumonia can be prevented through vaccination. Flu shots help, too, by preventing another illness from taking hold. Keep the immune system healthy through good diet and sleep habits, not smoking, and frequent handwashing.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: fatigue, cough, headache, loss of appetite, shortness of breath
Symptoms that always occur with bacterial pneumonia: cough
Urgency: In-person visit
Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Coughing Up A Watery Substance
To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:
- Any fever today or during the last week?
- Have you been feeling more tired than usual, lethargic or fatigued despite sleeping a normal amount?
- Do you currently smoke?
- Do you have a sore throat?
The above questions are also covered by our A.I. Health Assistant.
If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions
Take a quiz to find out why you're having coughing up a watery substance
Coughing Up A Watery Substance Symptom Checker Statistics
People who have experienced coughing up a watery substance have also experienced:
- 14% Cough
- 10% Mucous Dripping In The Back Of The Throat
- 6% Dry Cough
People who have experienced coughing up a watery substance were most often matched with:
- 60% Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd)
- 20% Bronchitis
- 20% Smoking-Induced Cough
People who have experienced coughing up a watery substance had symptoms persist for:
- 32% Less than a week
- 23% Two weeks to a month
- 18% Over a month
Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).
Coughing Up A Watery Substance Symptom Checker
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