Which symptom describes coughing up blood?

• A. Hemoptysis
• B. Hematuria
• C. Dysuria
• D. Abd. Pain

Answer: (A)

Coughing up blood is described as hemoptysis. This term means there is blood coming from the respiratory tract and can vary from small streaks to a larger amount. It signals bleeding somewhere in the airways or lung tissue and can accompany infections (like bronchitis or pneumonia), inflammatory or malignant processes, pulmonary embolism, or trauma. When documenting, note the amount (scant, moderate, large), the color and appearance (bright red vs. darker), how it started, whether it occurs with coughing or at rest, and any related symptoms such as fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness. To differentiate, remember that blood in the urine is hematuria, painful urination is dysuria, and abdominal pain is a separate symptom from the chest/respiratory issue.