What is hemoptysis?

Hemoptysis refers specifically to the act of coughing up blood from the respiratory tract. This condition can indicate various underlying health issues, such as infections, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, or other serious lung diseases. The blood may vary in quantity from small streaks to significant amounts depending on the severity of the underlying condition.

The other choices relate to different medical observations: the presence of blood in urine pertains to hematuria, while the presence of blood in stool is associated with gastrointestinal issues such as hematochezia or melena, depending on the source and nature of the bleeding. Dark sticky feces usually indicate the presence of digested blood, often related to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, but they do not involve coughing. Therefore, the definition of hemoptysis is accurately captured by the act of coughing up blood, making that option the correct choice.