Symptom guide · General Practice & Family Medicine
Coughing Up Blood
What coughing up blood can point to, how urgent it is, and who assesses it in the UAE.
Also known as haemoptysis
Treat this as a medical emergency
Coughing up blood can mean bleeding inside the body. Blood loss can be far greater than what is visible.
Go now if any of these apply
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tarry or sticky stools
- Coughing up more than streaks of blood
- Soaking through a pad in under an hour after birth, or passing large clots
- Feeling faint, cold, clammy, or short of breath with the bleeding
Call 998 for an ambulance now. Do not eat or drink anything until you have been assessed.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Also known as
- haemoptysis
- Body region
- Chest
- Care area
- General Practice & Family Medicine
- Conditions linked
- 5
Possible causes
Conditions that can cause coughing up blood
Listed alphabetically. This list is not ranked by likelihood.
- BronchiectasisCommon among people with bronchiectasis. Long-term condition.
- Lung CancerCommon among people with lung cancer.
- PneumoniaCommon among people with pneumonia.
- Pulmonary EmbolismCommon among people with pulmonary embolism.
- TuberculosisVery common among people with tuberculosis.
These figures describe how often each condition causes this symptom — not how likely it is that this symptom is caused by that condition. Most symptoms have a common, harmless explanation.
Treatment by cause
How the causes of coughing up blood are treated
Treatment follows the diagnosis, not the symptom. Each row is a linked condition and a treatment used for it.
| If the cause is | Treatment used | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Tuberculosis | Tuberculosis Screening | First line |
| Tuberculosis | Chest X-Ray | First line |
| Tuberculosis | Antibiotic Treatment | First line |
| Pneumonia | Chest X-Ray | First line |
| Pneumonia | Antibiotic Treatment | First line |
| Bronchiectasis | Chest X-Ray | First line |
| Pulmonary Embolism | Anticoagulation Management | First line |
| Pulmonary Embolism | GP Consultation | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Lung Lobectomy | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Chemotherapy | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Radiotherapy | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Immunotherapy | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Targeted Therapy | First line |
| Lung Cancer | Genomic Tumour Profiling | First line |
| Pneumonia | Pneumococcal Vaccination | Second line |
| Bronchiectasis | Spirometry | Second line |
| Lung Cancer | Palliative Care | Second line |
| Lung Cancer | Clinical Trials | Third line |
Find care
General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi
Where coughing up blood is assessed depends on what is causing it. These are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.
27 Ar Ruwwad St - Shakhbout City - MSH4 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, MetLife +20 more
Al Ruwais, Al Dhafrah
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +16 more
Al Bahyah - Al Bahyah Old - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, Allianz Care +18 more
Abu Dhabi
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +27 more
Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.
A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.
Symptom relief
Treatments used to relieve coughing up blood
Related symptoms
Other chest symptoms
Find care
Who assesses this in the UAE
These are the specialties that treat the conditions linked to this symptom. Every listed doctor holds a UAE licence.
Questions people ask
Can coughing up blood be a sign of tuberculosis?
Yes. Coughing up blood: very common among people with tuberculosis. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can coughing up blood be a sign of pneumonia?
Yes. Coughing up blood: common among people with pneumonia. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can coughing up blood be a sign of bronchiectasis?
Yes. Coughing up blood: common among people with bronchiectasis. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can coughing up blood be a sign of pulmonary embolism?
Yes. Coughing up blood: common among people with pulmonary embolism. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Keep reading
More about coughing up blood
- Can coughing up blood be a sign of tuberculosis?
- Can palliative radiotherapy help with coughing up blood?
- Can coughing up blood be a sign of pneumonia?
- Can coughing up blood be a sign of bronchiectasis?
- Can coughing up blood be a sign of pulmonary embolism?
- Can coughing up blood be a sign of lung cancer?
Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.