What should you know about frothy blood tinged sputum?

Blood-tinged sputum may appear pink, rusty or streaked after repeated coughing or inflammation in the airways. Bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis and COPD are possible causes, while bleeding from the nose or mouth can be mistaken for lung blood. Froth means mucus has mixed with air; it does not identify a diagnosis. Breathlessness, chest discomfort, fever or a growing amount of blood changes the level of concern and should be reported clearly.

Stop smoking, rest and drink fluids if appropriate for you. Keep a sample or take a clear note of the sputum's colour and amount if that can be done safely. Contact a healthcare professional for advice about new blood-tinged sputum, even when the streaks are small. Tell them about cough duration, fever, breathlessness, chest pain, recent infection, smoking and medicines that affect bleeding. See [Coughing Up Phlegm](/symptoms/coughing-up-phlegm/) for background information.

Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, fainting, confusion, severe chest pain or a large or rapidly increasing amount of blood. Seek urgent review for repeated episodes, fever with worsening illness or new symptoms in someone with chronic lung disease. [Pneumonia](/conditions/pneumonia/), [Bronchiectasis](/conditions/bronchiectasis/) and [COPD](/conditions/copd/) can all require prompt assessment.

Where might the blood be coming from? Do I need an examination, imaging or a sputum test? Could my medicines or smoking be contributing? What amount or symptom means I should attend emergency care? When would [Antibiotic Treatment](/treatments/medical-management/antibiotic-treatment/) be appropriate?