Coughing up Blood: 9 common causes (and what to do)

Coughing up blood, technically called hemoptysis, is not always a sign of a serious problem and may only arise due to a small wound in the nose or throat that bleeds when coughing or due to prolonged dryness of the membranes of the respiratory system, for example.

However, when accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, night sweats and weight loss, coughing up blood can indicate more serious situations such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or lung cancer.

Therefore, it is recommended to consult your general practitioner or a pulmonologist whenever coughing up blood takes more than 24 hours to disappear or when it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or wheezing, or when the amount of blood is large or increases as you go. over time.

Main causes

The main causes of coughing up blood are:

1. Airway injuries

In most cases, coughing up blood is caused by simple injuries to the nose, irritation of the throat or due to some tests, such as bronchoscopy, lung biopsy, endoscopy or surgery to remove the tonsils, for example.

What to do: In most cases, coughing up blood disappears on its own without needing any treatment, however, if it persists for more than 1 day it is important to see a pulmonologist to identify the problem and start appropriate treatment.

2. Prolonged cough

When you have the flu and one of the symptoms is a dry, strong and prolonged cough, the presence of blood when coughing is relatively common due to irritation of the respiratory tract, which can last for a few days if treatment is not carried out.

What to do: If coughing up blood or other flu symptoms do not go away after a few days, it is recommended that you consult a doctor so that the best treatment can be indicated, which may involve the use of anti-inflammatory or antipyretic medications, for example.

3. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that usually causes symptoms such as coughing up blood, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. The diagnosis is made based on tests and treatment may include antibiotics.

What to do: Since some types of pneumonia need to be treated with antibiotics, it is advisable to see a pulmonologist to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment. In the most serious cases, pneumonia can significantly affect breathing, and it may even be necessary to be admitted to the hospital.

4. Tuberculosis

In addition to coughing up blood, which is very characteristic of tuberculosis cases, this disease can also cause other signs such as constant fever, night sweats, excessive tiredness and weight loss. In this case, the cough must have been present for more than 2 weeks. The test that identifies pulmonary tuberculosis is a sputum test and treatment is with antibiotics.

What to do: Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria and, therefore, its treatment is always done with antibiotics that need to be used for several months until the infection is completely cured. Therefore, whenever tuberculosis is suspected, it is very important to consult a pulmonologist. Furthermore, if the diagnosis is confirmed, those closest to you should be notified so that they can also be tested for tuberculosis, as the disease spreads easily. See more details on tuberculosis treatment.

5. Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a respiratory disease that causes coughing up blood that gradually worsens due to permanent dilation of the bronchi, which generates excessive production of secretion, as well as a frequent sensation of shortness of breath. This condition is mainly caused by cystic fibrosis, pneumonia or yeast infection.

What to do: It is important that a pulmonologist or general practitioner is consulted so that a diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be started with medications that help alleviate symptoms, improving quality of life.

6. Bronchitis

Bronchitis can also lead to coughing up blood, although this is more rare, as it causes recurrent inflammation of the bronchi, which increases irritation of the airways and the likelihood of bleeding.

What to do: In most cases, rest and water intake are capable of relieving the symptoms of bronchitis, however, if they are persistent or there is greater difficulty breathing, it is important to consult a doctor, as the use of medication may be necessary. .

7. Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is a serious problem that must be treated as quickly as possible in the hospital. It usually happens due to the presence of a clot that prevents the flow of blood to the lung, causing death of the affected tissues and intense difficulty breathing. Thus, in addition to coughing up blood, it is very common to experience extreme shortness of breath, blue fingers, chest pain and increased heart rate. Understand more about how pulmonary embolism arises.

What to do: Whenever there is intense shortness of breath, accompanied by chest pain and coughing, it is very important to go to the hospital quickly so that appropriate treatment can be started.

8. Lung cancer

Lung cancer is suspected when there is coughing up blood and weight loss in recent months without diet or exercise. Other symptoms that may be present are tiredness and weakness, which can occur when cancer starts in the lung, as is more common in people who smoke, or when there are metastases in the lung. Learn about other symptoms that may indicate lung cancer.

What to do: The success of cancer treatment is always greater the earlier the cancer is diagnosed. Therefore, whenever there are symptoms that could indicate a lung problem, it is very important to consult a pulmonologist so that appropriate tests can be carried out and treatment can be started according to the stage of the cancer, if necessary.

9. Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema occurs when there is an accumulation of fluids within this organ, happening more easily in people who have heart problems, such as congestive heart failure, in which the heart is not able to pump blood correctly and, therefore, it accumulates. in the small blood vessels of the lungs, releasing liquid inside.

In these cases, it is possible for the person to cough up blood, and there may also be a frothy secretion. In addition, other common symptoms are difficulty breathing, bluish lips and fingers, chest pain and rapid heart rate. Check out other symptoms of pulmonary edema.

What to do: Pulmonary edema is considered a medical emergency and, therefore, it is essential that the person goes to the hospital as soon as they suspect this condition, especially if they have any cardiac changes. This means that the diagnosis can be made quickly and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated, which is normally carried out in the hospital.

When to go to the doctor

It is recommended to consult a pulmonologist when coughing up blood is excessive, lasts more than 3 days or is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Bloody urine or feces;
• Intense chest pain;
• Dizziness;
• Fever above 38°C;
• Difficulty breathing.

If you suspect that the situation is serious, you should call 192 and call SAMU or go to the emergency room to have the situation evaluated by a doctor.

If you would like to see a specialist, make an appointment with your nearest pulmonologist:

When consulting with a doctor, tests such as X-rays, bronchoscopy, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may be recommended to identify the cause of coughing up blood and thus be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Coughing up blood in babies and children

In children, the most common cause is the presence of small objects that they place in their nose or mouth and end up in the lungs, causing a dry cough with traces of blood. In this case, it is common for there not to be much blood involved, but it is important to take the child to the hospital for an X-ray to identify the cause.

The doctor may also use a small instrument to observe the child’s ears, nose and throat in search of small objects such as earrings, screws, corn, peas, beans or toys that may have been introduced into these areas. Depending on the type and location of the object, it may be removed with tweezers or surgery.

Other less common causes of coughing up blood in babies and children are lung or heart disease, which should be diagnosed and treated by a pediatrician.