How concerning is blood in flem?

[Ishy20]

I had chest X-ray last week which confirmed pneumonia. I had told dr I had been coughing up blood for several days and they asked if it was streaked and I said yes. I saw a description on a web page using the description of looking like a partially scrambled egg and that is what it really looked like, not really streaked but kind of mixed. Now I have been on 500 mg Cipro for 4 of 7 days prescribed but still am coughing up same type of blood mixture. Am I just not allowing the medicine to work long enough or should I be contacting my doctor?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Pneumonia can cause blood in phlegm. If your symptoms are worsening/not improving with the antibiotic then the infecting organism may not be susceptible to the antibiotic. You will need to re consult your doctor who may need to do a sputum culture and sensitivity to determine what antibiotic the organism is susceptible to. In the meantime take OTC acetaminophen for the temperature, try to take warm oral fluids and do steam inhalations prior to your meals. This helps to loosen up and bring out the secretions.  

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Caryopteris]

I think usually blood in phlegm is from TB, but perhaps other infections can cause it.