Haemoptysis in childhood: 10 years single centre experience

Haemoptysis is defined as coughing up blood from the lower respiratory tract. Anamnesis, examination findings,X-ray, bronchoscopic examination and demographic characteristics are guiding in the evaluation of a patient with haemoptysis. To evaluate patients admitted to our hospital with haemoptysis in terms of demographic, clinical, radiological and bronchoscopic findings and aetiological factors. The records of patients admitted to our hospital with the complaint of haemoptysis between2014-2023were retrospectively reviewed. Of a total of 43 patients,60.4%(n=26)were female. The median age of the patients was11.3years. The most common pathological findings on chest radiographs were infiltration(31%),atelectasis(8.6%)and pleural effusion(5.4%). The most common pathological findings on HRCT were infiltration(35.4%),ground glass appearance(6.4%),pleural effusion(6.4%)and bronchiectasis(3.2%). Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed in72%(n=31)of the patients;haemorrhage foci were detected in 5 patients, while no haemorrhage was found in 26patients. The most common causes of haemoptysis were pneumonia(20.3%),bronchitis (16.1%),leukaemia(5.4%)and othercauses(9.9%).PAAC findings of idiopathic haemoptysis cases were infiltration(12%),atelectasis(8%),and PAAC without pathological findings(80%).HRCT was ordered in6.6%of patients with idiopathic haemoptysis and the findings of HRCTwere increased infiltration(30%)and no pathological findings(70%). The finding of infection as the most common etiology of haemoptysis in our centre is consistent with the literature, but foreign body aspiration, which is a common cause of haemoptysis in children according to the literature, was not found in our patient group.