# Haemoptysis (Coughing Blood)

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class RS14 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Suspected Cancer: Recognition and Referral - NICE Guideline NG12 - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK304993) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304993/
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care

## Treatment metadata

- No drug therapy in primary care (Referral & Advice)

## Complete treatment card

```text
HAEMOPTYSIS (COUGHING BLOOD)
Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class RS14 -
         condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary
         care · Suspected Cancer: Recognition and Referral - NICE Guideline NG12 - NCBI Bookshelf
         (NBK304993) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304993/
Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above  (2026-08)

1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (REFERRAL & ADVICE)    [1st line]
   Adult    Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract, with causes ranging from bronchitis to
            tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, or lung cancer; the GP's role is urgent work-up including
            a chest X-ray and TB screening, and referral, since the underlying cause determines
            treatment rather than the symptom itself. - Refer, with advice
   Peds     Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is
            implied.
   Source   No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
   Why      Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract, with causes ranging from bronchitis to
            tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, or lung cancer; the GP's role is urgent work-up including
            a chest X-ray and TB screening, and referral, since the underlying cause determines
            treatment rather than the symptom itself.
   Caution  No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and
            referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to.
            RED FLAG - Large-volume haemoptysis or breathlessness (airway compromise - emergency),
            haemoptysis with weight loss, night sweats, or a prolonged cough (possible tuberculosis
            or malignancy), or haemoptysis in an older smoker (exclude lung cancer).

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
```

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