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Coughing up blood

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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

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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
• 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. 

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