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Cause for coughing up food with white mucus?

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I am going out of my head with worry. My mum has not been able to eat properly for about 2 months, has been living on soup. It has recently got worse where even a cup of tea won't go down properly. She swallows but the food doesn't go down properly she coughs it back up. The food comes back in a slimy white mucus and this morning she was having to cough up just the mucus, not being sick, just the feeling that it has to come up. Have you any idea what this could be? I am so worried. Thanks Diane

Category: Gastroenterologist, Medical

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Dr. Ratnakar Kini
Category: Hepatologist
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 22 Doctors Online

Expert:  Dr. Ratnakar Kini
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Hello.
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.
Difficulty in swallowing in an elderly lady could be due to esophageal malignancy. There are benign causes as well like a peptic stricture or a motility disorder of esophagus.
I would advise her to get an upper GI endoscopy done to inspect the inside of the food pipe for any obstruction caused by malignancy or a benign stricture. She can consult a gastroenterologist for endoscopy.
Alternatively a barium swallow x-ray may be done to find the cause of this symptom.
I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K

Dr. Ratnakar Kini
Category: Hepatologist
Experience: 
Fellowship - DM - TN Dr.MGR Medical UniversityResidency - TN Dr.MGR Medical University Medical School - Stanely Medical College, TN Dr.MGR Medical University
Dr. Ratnakar Kini and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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