history of presenting complaint
Last reviewed 01/2018
Onset of haemoptysis:
- childhood onset is indicative of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis
- sudden, e.g. PE, acute left ventricular failure
- progressive, e.g. bronchiectasis, lung carcinoma
Colour:
- haemoptysis is bright red
- haematemesis is brown
- pulmonary oedema is pink, frothy sputum
Quantity:
- massive haemoptysis, e.g. lung carcinoma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung cavities, e.g. aspergilloma
- less severe haemoptysis, e.g. bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, mitral stenosis, pulmonary embolism, acute left ventricular failure