Hemoptysis history and symptoms

Patients with hemoptysis may have a positive history of upper respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal disease, exposure to patients with tuberculosis, bleeding disorders, medications (anticoagulants), and cigarette smoking. Common symptoms of hemoptysis include bloody sputum, chronic cough, shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, and wheezing. Less common symptoms of hemoptysis depends on the etiology include weight loss, change in cough, fatigue.

Patients with hemoptysis may have a positive history of:^[1][2][3][4]

• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Exposure to patients with tuberculosis
• Bleeding disorders
• Medications (anticoagulants)
• Cigarette smoking
• Recent blunt chest trauma

• Seizure
• Lower extremity pain or swelling
• Exposure to alcohol or asbestos

Patients with hemoptysis must be asked about:

• Onset and duration of bleeding
• Quantity and rate of bleeding
• Sputum appearance and odor
• Spontaneous spilling out or during cough
• Recurrence of bleeding

Common symptoms of hemoptysis include:

• Bloody sputum that could have different appearances such as:^[1]
  • Bright red blood
  • Blood clots
  • Blood-streaked, purulent sputum
  • Blood-tinged, white, frothy sputum 
  • Foul-smelling, bloody sputum

• Chronic cough with sputum production
• Shortness of breath
• Pleuritic chest pain
• Wheezing

Less common symptoms of hemoptysis depends on the etiology include:

• Weight loss
• Change in cough
• Fatigue