Blood in sputum is a symptom of many respiratory diseases or sometime resulting from some systemic disease. Bloody sputum can also result from trauma to the respiratory tract. Hemoptysis is the medical term used for blood in sputum.
Sputum is a thick jelly like material produced in the respiratory tract, and it is coughed out from the mouth. Sputum is produced as body’s immunological response to throw out the bacteria and invading organisms or foreign body from the respiratory tract. Normally sputum is grayish white in color. When there is bleeding in the respiratory tract, the sputum is streaked with blood, and its color changes to bright red.
If blood in sputum is coughed out in significant amount, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention. It may be a symptom of serious disease of the respiratory tract.
However, small streaks of blood in sputum are seen many times with continuous irritable cough.
It is frightening experience for a person to see blood in his sputum when he coughs. It is natural on his part to become anxious and restless to know the cause. Reassurance is the best way to calm down the person.
Causes Of Blood In Sputum With Cough
Various causes of blood in sputum are:
Lung infection:
- Tuberculosis.
- Bronchectasis, emphysema.
- Bronchitis.
- Lung abscess.
- Pneumonia.
- Fungal infection such as histoplasmosis.
- Parasitic infection such as schistosomiasis.
- Plague.
Malignancy:
- Bronchogenic carcinoma.
- Bronchial adenoma.
- Tumors of trachea and larynx.
Pulmonary hemorrhage:
- Goodpasture syndrome.
- Wegener’s granulomatosis.
- Systemic lupus erythymetosus.
- Amyloidosis.
- Broncholithiasis.
- Pulmonary embolism.
Trauma:
- Trauma to the chest.
- Foreign body.
- Needle biopsy.
- Transbronchial biopsy.
Cardiovascular disorders:
- Mitral valve disease.
- Left ventricular failure.
- Arterio venous fistula.
- Aortic aneurism
- Pulmonary hypertension.
Cocaine drug abuse is also one of the causes for blood in sputum.
A dry hacking cough in many respiratory diseases causes blood tinged sputum. This is because, the sputum has become hard and constant cough ruptures the mucus membrane of the throat resulting into mild bleeding.
Symptoms Of Blood In Sputum
Blood in sputum is a symptom of many diseases. It can be accompanied with other symptoms such as;
- Fever: presence of fever with blood in sputum signifies infecting. Active tuberculosis is associated with irregular fever, with rise of temperature in evening and night. High fever is noted in pneumonia and abscess in lungs.
- Chest pain: it is often experienced in pneumonia, lung abscess or due to trauma. Excessive coughing caused due to bronchitis or pneumonia can also cause chest pain.
- Cough: cough forms the most important respiratory symptom associated with bloody sputum. It occurs due to irritation of the mucus membrane anywhere in the respiratory tract. Cough is a common symptom amongst smokers. In tuberculosis cough persists for months.
- Breathlessness.
- Wheezing.
- Palpitation.
- Cyanosis, when there is less oxygenation of blood, the mucus membrane and nails turn blue, this condition is called cyanosis.
- Clubbing of nails: swelling of nail bed.
- Hoarseness.
- Reduced movement of chest.
- Excessive sweating.
- Increased respiratory rate.
- Increased pulse rate.
- Unexplained weight loss as seen in lung cancer and tuberculosis.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness due to anemia.
- Blood in urine.
- Blood in stool.
- Pain in legs with swelling.
- Headache.
The symptom, blood in sputum should never be ignored, especially when it happens repeatedly. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
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