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Scenario: Harry, 44 years old, comes to you proudly showing you the blood that he can cough up. Furthermore, he boasts that it has been present for weeks. He is quite unconcerned.
This could be:
Reassure Harry and arrange for him to see a doctor as soon as possible. The most common cause would be bronchitis (infection of the larger airways of the lungs), but serious causes such as lung cancer or TB need to be ruled out. Blood in the urine or faeces also calls for prompt medical attention.
The coughing up of blood, or 'haemoptysis' in medical terms, is not always a medical emergency. However, urgent medical attention should be sought if it is persistent and heavy or if there are signs such as a high fever, breathlessness, or if the person appears very unwell.