Haemoptysis Differentials

Question 1

How can you distinguish between haemoptysis and other causes of blood in the mouth?

Answer 1

1. Sudden blood in mouth suggests nasopharyngeal origin (e.g. epistaxis)
2. Blood from GIT is dark, acidic, and contains food particles.

Question 2

What general issue could be causing this?

Blood stained purulent sputum, cough, fever, dyspnoea.

Answer 2

Respiratory tract infection

Question 3

What general issue could be causing this?

Repeated small haemoptysis or blood streaked sputum >2 weeks. Smoking history, weight loss, Horner’s.

Answer 3

Lung tumour

Question 4

What is this a presentation of?

Haemoptysis with sudden onset pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea.

Answer 4

Pulmonary embolism