North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

During which condition would a patient most likely experience hemoptysis?

1. Lung infection

2. Heart failure

3. Chronic bronchitis

4. Allergic reaction

The correct answer is: Lung infection

Hemoptysis refers to the coughing up of blood from the respiratory tract, particularly from the lungs or bronchi. A lung infection can lead to inflammation and damage to the lung tissues and blood vessels, which can cause this symptom. Conditions such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or bronchitis, all classified under lung infections, can irritation and result in bleeding, leading to the expectoration of blood. In contrast, heart failure may lead to pulmonary edema, which can cause blood-tinged sputum due to fluid accumulation but is not typically associated with direct bleeding from the respiratory passages. Chronic bronchitis, while it may involve coughing, does not predominantly result in hemoptysis unless accompanied by severe infections or complications. Allergic reactions generally do not involve the respiratory tract in a manner that would lead to coughing up blood. Thus, a lung infection is the condition most directly linked to the occurrence of hemoptysis.