Hemoptysis

Hemoptysis or haemoptysis is the discharge of blood or blood-stained mucus through the mouth coming from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs.

This can occur with lung cancer, infections such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, or pneumonia, and certain cardiovascular conditions.

[1] The most common causes for hemoptysis in adults are chest infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

[1] In children, hemoptysis is commonly caused by the presence of a foreign body in the airway.

Less common causes include aspergilloma, bronchiectasis, coccidioidomycosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonic plague, and cystic fibrosis.

[citation needed] Although there are reports that the fatality rate is as high as 80%, the mortality rate for hospitalized hemoptysis patients is 9.4% (with n=28539), calculated from the data in the article by Kinoshita et al.[27] This is probably the most reasonable figure considering the overwhelming number of cases.

Treatments include iced saline, and topical vasoconstrictors such as adrenaline or vasopressin.

Diagnostic approach to solving the puzzle of hemoptysis.
Hemoptysis