Hemoptysis (Blood Streaked Sputum)
HEMOPTYSIS is defined as the coughing up of blood. The blood is bright red and frothy. It is an alarming symptom.
Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or bloody sputum from the lungs or airway. In children it is commonly due to a foreign body in the respiratory tract. It may be either self-limiting or recurrent. Massive hemoptysis is defined as 200-600 mL of blood coughed up within a period of 24 hours or less.
Hemoptysis may be the result of forceful coughing or a sign of a serious respiratory illness.
Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract. It is not the same as Hematemesis, which refers to vomiting up blood.
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.
Hemoptysis can be caused by a range of disorders:
- Infections. These include pneumonia ; tuberculosis ; aspergillosis ; and parasitic diseases, including ascariasis, amebiasis , and paragonimiasis.
- Tumors that erode blood vessel walls.
- Drug abuse. Cocaine can cause massive hemoptysis.
- Trauma. Chest injuries can cause bleeding into the lungs.
- Vascular disorders, including aneurysms, pulmonary embolism , and malformations of the blood vessels.
- Bronchitis. Its most common cause is long-term smoking .
- Foreign object(s) in the airway.
- Blood clotting disorders.
- Bleeding following such surgical procedures as bronchial biopsies and heart catheterization.
Treatment of Hemoptysis
Patients with tuberculosis, aspergillosis, or bacterial pneumonia are given antibiotics.
Foreign objects are removed with a bronchoscope.
If the cause cannot be determined, the patient is monitored for further developments.
1. Keep patient calm.
2. Complete bed rest.
3. Cough syrups.
4. Contact a doctor immediately
Diagnostic tests that may make you cough up blood may include:
- Bronchoscopy
- Laryngoscopy
- Lung biopsy
- Mediastinoscopy
- Spirometry
- Tonsillectomy
- Upper airway biopsy
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