Discovering blood in your sputum can be an alarming experience. Whether it’s a small streak of blood or a more significant amount, seeing blood mixed with your phlegm is a cause for concern. Prevention is better than cure; thus, it is important to know the possible causes, and signs of the disorder and seek treatment. Thus, this guide will enable you to approach this issue more simply as it will be illustrated below.
What is Blood in Sputum all about?
Often referred to as phlegm, sputum is the matter that is brought up from the bronchial tubes and the lungs by coughing. It has a significant function of filtering dust particles, germs and any tiny particle that might be a nuisance to the lungs. Yet, if there are bloody streaks, it means that there is an issue with your respiratory tract.
Blood in sputum can appear in several forms: –
- Blood in sputum with cough: This is probably the most widely known cause for the presence of blood in the phlegm owing to irritation or injury to the respiratory tract.
- Blood in phlegm no cough: However, witnessing blood in phlegm when you’re not coughing can be worrying and might demand the need to see an ENT doctor in Ahmedabad.
- Phlegm with little blood: Several measures should be taken when phlegm with little blood is noticed: However, heme-deficient microremias or spotting may be a sign of minor inflammatory response and/or slight tissue injury, which should not be forgotten.
- Blood in morning sputum: This is mostly observed in the morning when you wake up and may be a result of so many several causes which may be from dryness of the throat to the worst illnesses.
Common Causes of Blood in Sputum
Blood in sputum can be caused by several conditions, ranging from minor irritations to more severe health issues. Here’s a breakdown of the most common causes:
1. Respiratory Infections
Possible reasons for blood staining include bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer and other diseases affecting the respiratory tract. It is possible to get infections and inflammation of the airways leading to injury of other blood vessels which may haemorrhage and result in bloody secretion.
- Bronchitis: More often than not this is due to viral or bacterial infection of the bronchial tubes and is typified by the presence of hemoptysis where a person coughs out blood-streaked sputum.
- Pneumonia: This can lead to cough which results in excessive production of sputum with blood if the disease is in advance.
- Tuberculosis: TB is a bacterial disease that majorly affects the lungs; occasionally you may expect blood-stained spit.
2. Chronic Respiratory Conditions
This can be a result of pulmonary diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis or lung cancer in a patient presenting with haemoptysis (blood in sputum).
- COPD: Discriminant lung disease causes a chronic cough and at quite a young age can progress to hemoptysis.
- Bronchiectasis: Predisposing this, results in a gradual bronchial dilation and an increase in mucus; there are, sometimes, haemorrhages of suffering.
3. Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism is one of the blockages of pulmonary arteries in the lungs commonly resulting from blood clots. This is a very dangerous disease, which causes coughing of blood, and any such occurrence has to be reported to the doctor.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you observe the presence of blood in phlegm, then other signs should be known as well. These symptoms can provide clues about the underlying cause:
- Fever and Chills: Typically related to pneumonia or bronchitis although they may occur with other illnesses or no identifiable disease.
- Shortness of Breath: It may point to some other severe condition like pulmonary embolism or lung cancer.
- Chest Pain: If the pain is sharp or continuous accompanied by some shortness of breath or coughing then it could be part of a lung disease that requires a doctor’s attention.
- Night Sweats: If seen in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary disease that has spread to the lymph nodes.
Diagnosis
When you seek medical attention for blood in your sputum, your doctor will perform a thorough examination and may order various tests to determine the cause. These tests can include:
- Chest X-ray: To ensure that no signs of a problem with the lungs exist or if there was a previous detection of a problem, to monitor the condition regularly.
- CT Scan: Gives a clearer view of your chest and lung area of your body.
- Bronchoscopy: an examination done by insertion of a thin tube with a camera into the airways in search of obstruction or other anomalies.
- Blood Tests: In cases where the patient may be having infections or where the clotting may be a concern.
Treatment Options
Streptococci and other chest infections require antibiotics while bronchitis can be treated by mere use of cough mixtures and plenty of rest. Here’s a look at some common treatments: Here’s a look at some common treatments:
- Antibiotics: If the blood in your sputum is due to bacterial infection the doctor will prescribe the correct antibiotics for the infection as well as to reduce the inflammation in the bronchial tubes.
- Antiviral Medications: In conditions such as the flu, or a specific form of pneumonia, antiviral drugs may be prescribed to lessen the centrality and duration of the ailment.
- Steroids: For COPD and other chronic ailments that cause excessive bleeding such as bronchitis, the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to minimise further inflammation.
- Surgery: In some cases, as in cancer or severe injury, it may be appropriate to take out part of the lung or to fix injured tissues.
Conclusion
It is quite alarming to find blood in your sputum; and knowing the possible reasons, signs and remedies available can assist you manage the situation. If ever you are in this situation, you should consult an ENT Doctor so you may assess the reason why and get the right course of action.
If you are having blood in sputum and worry about your health, Dr Simple Bhadania is ready to meet with you. She is a specialist in respiratory diseases and is always tolerant of her patients with the best aim to find out the root cause of the problem and to provide you with the best plan of action.