The medical term for bringing up blood from the respiratory tract is hemoptysis. Hemoptysis is almost always an indication of a respiratory condition, but not always. Coughing up blood should always be viewed suspiciously unless a medical professional rules out the possibility of a serious disorder. The volume of blood coughed up and the length of time that blood was coughed up can indicate the severity of the condition.
The diagnosis process for hemoptysis is relatively straightforward and includes, among other things, a patient history and physical examination, a chest x-ray to determine whether there is a physical injury to the chest, a CT scan for detailed images of the chest, and bronchoscopy. These tests will aid the physician in making a conclusive diagnosis of the condition. Here are fourteen potential causes of bloody sputum from the respiratory tract:
