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What Causes Blood In Sputum?

Posted on Mon, 25 May 2015

Question: I have been waking up in the morning and spitting and my spit has blood in it. My nose has been stopped up and I'm sneezing a lot. I'm not getting any blood from my nose just in my spit. It has been going on for 17 months but had gotten worse with the pollin and dust. Could this be sinus related or cancer.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Better to get done chest x ray first.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having hemoptysis (blood in sputum).
Following are the common causes for hemoptysis.
1. Infection like pneumonia, tuberculosis etc
2. Bronchitis
3. Asthma
4. Lung cancer.
Possibility of lung cancer is very less as you are just 23 years old.
Better to get done chest x ray to rule out infection.
Since you are having allergies, possibility of asthma is more.
Sinus related cause is also less likely because it causes blood from nose, not from mouth.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever consulted pulmonologist?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (25 minutes later)

I have had a personal fitness test I have no trouble breathing. This happens when I suck the back of my throat. Sometimes I also blue blood from my nose. I went to the doc last May had blood work and all was good
I also have no cough or trouble breathing just chronic sinuses I think it might be post nasal drip

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Have you consulted ENT doctor?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Since you are not having wheezing or breathlessness or coughing, possibility of asthma is less likely in your case.
You initially told about allergies.
So possibility of allergic rhinitis is more in your case.
So please let me know
1. What kind of allergies you have?
2. Have you ever consulted ENT doctor and undergone nasal endoscopy?
3. Do you have any dental problem? I am asking this because dental problems can cause blood in spit.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)

I have seasonal allergies sir but it's been on going seems like dry air and pollin. My eyes are always bagging I've always had an enlarged tonsil. My doc thinks it's just sllergies I just worry it's cancer

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are mostly due to allergy.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, your all symptoms are mostly due to allergy.
Allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis are seen together commonly.
The best treatment of these is as follows.
1. Identification of allergen and if possible complete avoidance of it.
2. Inhaled nasal spray containing steroid.
3. Eyedrops containing steroid.
4. Combination of oral antihistamine and anti allergic drug.
You need to take these drugs for long period of time and then gradually taper down according to symptomatic control.
So please let me know if you are taking any drugs at present, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

I currently have an over the counter nasal spray I take when I get stopped up that's all

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Which nasal spray you are using?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Over the counter nasal sprays are harmful and can cause rhinitis medicamentosa (rhinitis caused by nasal sprays).
So better to avoid such over the counter nasal sprays.
Which nasal spray you are using when needed?
Approximately how frequently you need to use it? Means once a week or once in 15 days?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

I can't recall the name it's cheap and once a weak

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stop that OTC nasal spray.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
In my opinion, you should first stop that OTC (over the counter) nasal spray.
Consult ENT doctor and discuss about steroid containing nasal spray and combination of antihistamine and anti allergic drug.
Also consult ophthalmologist and start steroid containing eye drops.
Avoid dust and other allergen.
First control your symptoms and then gradually taper down these drugs and nasal spray.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

So theirs no way I'm bleeding in my stomach right?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Bleeding from stomach is less likely.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Bleeding from stomach is less likely.
Stomach bleeding usually causes blood stained vomiting, not spitting.
Please let me know
1. Are you alcoholic?
2. Are you having burning epigastric pain?
3. Are you having nausea and vomiting?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)

I drink a few beers a week but not a lot and no stomach pain or vomiting
Like I say it's been on and off for 18 months

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stop beer drinking.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Better to stop drinking beer.
It is not good habit. Although alcohol content is low, but still it can harm you.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

Thanks for your help so more then likely just sinuses

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, allergic rhinitis is more likely cause.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Yes, in your case, in my opinion, you are mostly having allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis causing you sinus congestion and all the symptoms.
So better to consult ENT doctor and discuss about starting nasal spray containing steroid and combination of antihistamine and anti allergic drugs.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D