What should you know about frothy blood streaked sputum?

A small streak may follow forceful coughing, throat irritation, inflammation or an airway infection. Conditions such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis and COPD can cause phlegm with blood. Blood may also come from the nose, gums or throat and mix with mucus. Froth can result when air mixes with mucus, but pink or blood-stained froth with breathlessness needs urgent attention. The appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Note the colour, amount and frequency, and whether the blood is mixed through the sputum or appears as streaks. Avoid smoking and keep hydrated if you can swallow normally. Arrange same-day medical advice, particularly if the symptom is new, recurring or accompanied by fever, chest pain or worsening cough. A clinician may listen to your chest and decide whether tests or treatment are needed. Read [Coughing Up Phlegm](/symptoms/coughing-up-phlegm/) for related guidance; antibiotics are not suitable for every cause.

Call emergency services if you are struggling to breathe, coughing up more than a small amount of blood, feeling faint, confused or clammy, or have severe chest pain or blue lips. Seek urgent assessment if the blood keeps returning, you have a high fever, or you have a known lung condition. Possible causes include [Pneumonia](/conditions/pneumonia/), [Bronchiectasis](/conditions/bronchiectasis/) and [COPD](/conditions/copd/).

Could the blood be coming from my nose or throat? What signs suggest infection? Do I need chest imaging or a sputum test? Which symptoms should bring me back urgently? Would [Antibiotic Treatment](/treatments/medical-management/antibiotic-treatment/) help in my situation?