Coughing up blood

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Overview

Treatment

Coughing up blood

Definition:

Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).

Alternative Names:

Hemoptysis; Spitting up blood; Bloody sputum

Considerations:

Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.

Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.

Blood that comes up with a cough often looks bubbly because it is mixed with air and mucus. It is usually bright red.

Common Causes:

A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood.

Diseases and conditions may include:

Bleeding gums such as with gingivitis
Blood clot in the lung
Bronchiectasis
Bronchitis
Cystic fibrosis
Esophageal cancer
Goodpasture's syndrome
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing
Nosebleed
Laryngitis
Lung cancer (see metastatic lung cancer)
Pneumonia
Pulmonary aspiration (inhaling blood into the lungs)
Pulmonary edema
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Tuberculosis
Wegener's granulomatosis

Diagnostic tests that may make you cough up blood may include:

Bronchoscopy
Laryngoscopy
Lung biopsy
Mediastinoscopy
Spirometry
Tonsillectomy
Upper airway biopsy

References:

Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:402-413.

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:497.

Review Date: 2/14/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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