Blood in phlegm

[Art99]

I’m a 28 year old male, ex-smoker. For the past 2 weeks I’ve been waking up every day with a scratchy throat, a slight cough, and an itch in my ear. I figured I just had allergies. A hot beverage would relieve it and it would be gone completely for the rest of the day.

Now yesterday, I woke up with a more severe sore throat which I attributed to post nasal drip (the window fan was blowing air into my face all night; that tends to do it to me). This time the soreness persisted the whole entire day. I went to bed last night with a lot of phlegm in my throat and woke up this morning with a lot of soreness and phlegm once again. I tried to hack up the phlegm. Most of it was clear or yellow. Then I managed to get a real good one... I hacked up a real thick sample that was directly from my throat, and spit it out onto a tissue. I noticed a streak of blood on the tissue mixed with yellow phlegm. I continued to try to bring phlegm up, and didn’t notice the blood anymore. Then, about an hour later, I once again brought up a real thick sample from deep within and there was a smaller bit of blood (I had to inspect the tissue very closely to identify it).

For the rest of the day, I continued to hack up phlegm but didn’t notice any more blood.

I don’t have any other symptoms, no runny nose, no stuffy nose, no persistent cough, no difficulty breathing, no headache or fever or stomach problems. Other than my throat, I feel fine.

So from what you’ve seen or heard, does this sound like allergies, a virus, an infection, or could it be something more serious? I tend to overreact to this kind of stuff, so I'm hopeful that it's just a common cold or allergies.

Should I see a doctor, or give myself a couple more days and see what happens?

[Art99]

Going to see the dr. tomorrow.

It seems to be a cold...last night it turned into sneezing, coughing, stuffy/runny nose, the works. When I woke this morning I brought up a big sample and there was a trace amt of blood on the tissue, less than yesterday, and none since then. Its only that first thick,full hack that contains it. other than that this is just like every other cold i've ever had.

[Londres70]

It's time to see a physician.

[Art99]

Thank you for your input, guess I gotta just give it some time. Tea and saltwater it is.

Would medication help? I've taken allegra but it didn't have any effect. I'm thinking ibuprofen or something like dayquil.

What about mucinex? or is that just for chest congestion

[tschock]

I'm doing the exact same thing right now, and I've labelled it as being due to allergies...tis the season. Could be viral too...who knows. lol

Phlegm, when yellow in color, suggests allergies, asthma, or infections.
Green is also a choice color...as is clear.

I would think that the blood is due to the throat being agitated.
My throat has been scratchy feeling for 5 days now, and the phlegm is the same as your's...trace amounts of blood.

If this does not clear up within 2 weeks, see your doctor.

I'm gargling with salt water, but it doesn't reach the spot. Drinking hot tea seems to help a bit.

Good luck.