Coughing up blood

• recent nosebleed
• vigorous tooth-brushing
• irritation of the throat from violent coughing
• lung cancer (see metastatic lung cancer )--especially if over 40 and a smoker
• pulmonary embolus
• cystic fibrosis
• pulmonary infection (bacterial or viral infection in the lung or airway)
  • bronchiectasis
  • bronchitis
  • laryngitis
  • pneumonia

• pulmonary aspiration (inhaling blood into the lungs)
  • from bleeding teeth such as with gingivitis
  • nosebleed ( epistaxis )
  • tonsillectomy

• diagnostic tests such as bronchoscopy , upper airway biopsy , laryngoscopy , lung biopsy , mediastinoscopy , or spirometry
• tuberculosis ( TB )
• pulmonary edema
• systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE )
• Goodpasture's syndrome
• Wegener's granulomatosis

Note: There may be other causes of coughing up blood. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for coughing up blood, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
For a recent nosebleed, no treatment is necessary. For bleeding caused by vigorous tooth-brushing, use proper dental hygiene and softer bristled brushes. For hemoptysis due to any other cause, see your health care provider right away.

For irritation of the throat from violent coughing , cough suppressants may help, and specific treatment of the underlying cause may be recommended by the doctor.

Cough suppression may or may not be desirable. Cough suppressants can prevent blood from spreading through the lungs, but they can also lead to airway obstruction from blood that accumulates.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

• there is any unexplained coughing up of blood.

What to Expect:
In emergency cases, the patient will be treated first to stabilize the condition. After the condition is stable the medical history will be obtained and a respiratory assessment performed.

Medical history questions documenting your cough in detail may include:

• type
  • Is visible blood coughed up (gross hemoptysis)?
  • Is there blood streaked sputum (phlegm)?
  • Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
  • Are there repeated episodes of coughing up blood (hemoptysis)?

• time pattern
  • Is the cough worse at night?
  • Did it begin suddenly?
  • Has it been increasing recently?
  • How long has the cough lasted (for how many weeks?)

• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Physical examination will include thorough examination of the chest and lungs.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• bronchoscopy
• coagulation studies such as PT or PTT
• complete blood count
• lung biopsy
• lung scan
• pulmonary arteriography
• sputum culture and smear
• X-rays of the chest

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to coughing up blood to your personal medical record.