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What Causes Coughing Up Of Blood?
Question: Hello Dr Bhatti,
I found blood in my cough usually during early morning after i wake up for about 7 days when i though of going to the hospital. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray which reported bronchiectasis of the right lower lobe. The doctor prescribed 14 days medication and asked me to come visit after a month. Since i was not too sure of an X ray being the only diagnostic tool, i went for a second opinion. The second hospital i went to a pulmonologist who said my X ray was normal and he does not find any chronic bronchitis. He ordered a CT scan and the results came out normal. He ruled out any lung disease(cancer, TB, bronchitis etc) and says the blood might be just due to bacterial or viral infection of lungs. He has prescribed a 7 day medication regime. For the past 2 days though i find bright red blood threads in the sputum that comes only after i brush and specifically after i brush and clean my tongue(aggressively). The cough blood has stopped. I also saw black threads in cough twice. Please guide. Is there any further tests needed
I found blood in my cough usually during early morning after i wake up for about 7 days when i though of going to the hospital. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray which reported bronchiectasis of the right lower lobe. The doctor prescribed 14 days medication and asked me to come visit after a month. Since i was not too sure of an X ray being the only diagnostic tool, i went for a second opinion. The second hospital i went to a pulmonologist who said my X ray was normal and he does not find any chronic bronchitis. He ordered a CT scan and the results came out normal. He ruled out any lung disease(cancer, TB, bronchitis etc) and says the blood might be just due to bacterial or viral infection of lungs. He has prescribed a 7 day medication regime. For the past 2 days though i find bright red blood threads in the sputum that comes only after i brush and specifically after i brush and clean my tongue(aggressively). The cough blood has stopped. I also saw black threads in cough twice. Please guide. Is there any further tests needed
Brief Answer:
This is common. Get a dental check, sputum culture x 3 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. If you specifically get a blood streaked sputum after brushing and cleaning your tongue aggressively, then this is common. The tongue is delicate and the posterior one third is covered by the lingual tonsil. This lymphoid tissue, which is spread throughout the throat is delicate and if inflamed will bleed easily on violent coughing. Get a VideoLaryngoscopy done.
2. Since the HRCT Chest is normal, there is no major lung disease. Bronchiectasis would have shown tree-in-bud appearance with dilated bronchi and large cystic areas.
3. Get a dental and gum check-up to rule out gingivitis. Vitamin C deficiency may also lead the gum bleeding. Get vitamin supplements. Do not brush or clean your tongue hard.
4. Get a sputum examination done for three consecutive days. Also get it checked. or occult blood.
5. The black streaks are likely to be due to air pollution or denatured blood due to the gastric acids.
6. Upload the test results for further discussion.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
This is common. Get a dental check, sputum culture x 3 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. If you specifically get a blood streaked sputum after brushing and cleaning your tongue aggressively, then this is common. The tongue is delicate and the posterior one third is covered by the lingual tonsil. This lymphoid tissue, which is spread throughout the throat is delicate and if inflamed will bleed easily on violent coughing. Get a VideoLaryngoscopy done.
2. Since the HRCT Chest is normal, there is no major lung disease. Bronchiectasis would have shown tree-in-bud appearance with dilated bronchi and large cystic areas.
3. Get a dental and gum check-up to rule out gingivitis. Vitamin C deficiency may also lead the gum bleeding. Get vitamin supplements. Do not brush or clean your tongue hard.
4. Get a sputum examination done for three consecutive days. Also get it checked. or occult blood.
5. The black streaks are likely to be due to air pollution or denatured blood due to the gastric acids.
6. Upload the test results for further discussion.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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