Bleeding from the Airways

Bleeding from the respiratory tract (synonyms: Sputum with blood; Coughing up blood; Bloody sputum; Sputum with blood; Hemorrhage from the bronchial system;Hemorrhage of the respiratory tract; Hemorrhage of the upper respiratory tract; Hemorrhage of the nasopharynx; Hemorrhage of the oropharynx; Hemorrhage of the tracheobronchial system; Hemorrhage of a major bronchus; Hemorrhage from the respiratory tract; Bronchial hemorrhage; Bronchorrhage; Bronchostaxis; Bronchial hemorrhage; Epipharyngeal hemorrhage; Epipharyngeal hemorrhage; Haemoptysis; Hemoptysis; Hemorrhage of the respiratory tract; Nasopharyngeal hemorrhage; Cough with hemorrhage; Cough with hemorrhage; Pulmonary hemorrhage; Pulmonary hematoma; Pulmonary hemorrhage; Pulmonary parenchymal hemorrhage; Pleural hemorrhage; Pneumorrhage; Postnasal hemorrhage; Postnasal hemorrhage; Pulmonary hemorrhage; Pulmonary hemorrhage; Pharyngeal hemorrhage; Pharyngeal hemorrhage; Rhinorrhagia; Sputum with blood; Tracheal effusion hemorrhage; Tracheal hemorrhage; Tracheobronchial hemorrhage; ICD-10-GM R04. -: Bleeding from the airways) can have many different causes.

In particular, epistaxis (nosebleed) can be distinguished from bleeding from the pharynx (e.g., after surgery) and the lower respiratory tract (e.g., hemoptysis (coughing up blood) caused by diseases of the lungs).

For hemoptysis, see the topic of the same name below.

Bleeding from the respiratory tract can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).

The lifetime prevalence (incidence of disease throughout life) for nosebleeds is 50% (in the world).

Course and prognosis: Course and prognosis depend on the cause of the disease. Since bleeding from the airways is a potentially vital threatening emergency situation, it requires immediate clarification of the cause as well as therapy.

In tonsillectomy (complete removal of the palatine tonsils), postoperative bleeding is the most common complication (prevalence (incidence of disease): 1-6%).