Coughing up old blood

[maomao]

My dd (2.5) has been really unwell. For a two nights, her fever was 39.4 - 39.7, and I took her to the GP. She was diagnosed with an ear infection, and is on antibiotics, which we started on Friday. Two days later, her fever is down, but she is clearly still quite poorly. This morning she has been coughing, and just coughed up what look like dark blood clots (nothing bright red). Her temperature is now 37.7. Does anyone have advice? Should I take her into A&E? Or will the antibiotics take care of whatever this is?

Thanks for your help.

How much blood? And was it with stomach contents, or lung contents, do you think? Has she been throwing up from coughing?

She could have had a nosebleed, say, and then coughed that up, later, from lungs or stomach?

Still, quite worrisome ...

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I would probably call NHS direct. And trust my instincts - do you think she is on the mend? Does she seem a bit more alert and ok?

Thanks for your responses! I thought she was on the mend (she is less weepy), but she really took a downward spiral yesterday afternoon (after an uncharacteristic and lengthy nap), which I took to be from being so exhausted. The doctor had checked her lungs and they were clear. Her fever is down, and her nose runs clear.

She has been complaining of a stomach ache (which I thought was from medication), but now I'm beginning to wonder.

I would call NHS direct. And probably go to A+E. Getting worse again, and showing new symptoms, is a bit alarming. There may be something else going on, as well as the ear infection?

Yes, my thoughts as well. Thanks again for the advice.

It may be nothing. As a child i was prone to nose bleeds and could sometimes be coughing up blood that was sat in my throat from the nose bleed, tmi sorry. Worth getting her checked out though.

If she has had any kind of nose bleed, even just a small one from rubbing her nose, this can look like she is coughing up blood. As it is dark red it is old, however, you should always take haemoptisis (coughing up blood) seriously esp in a child so young. If it has just been from a burst blood vessel from excessive coughing or from a nose bleed it will resolve fairly quickly, if it last longer than luch time or she becomes unwell take her to a dr.

what colour is her medication, has she being sneeking any sweeties?