Blood in Saliva - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Blood in saliva is a symptom that can depend on various causes.

This manifestation can for example be observed in the presence of transient infections of the upper airways (sinusitis, laryngitis or pharyngitis), capillary fragility and blood coagulation disorders.

Other causes to take into consideration are dental and include periodontal pathologies (alterations of gums and other dental appendages) of inflammatory or dystrophic nature. Blood traces in the saliva can be found in case of oropharyngeal traumas, incongruous prostheses, chemical damage from ingestion of caustic substances, epistaxis (blood from the nose), excessive use of chewing tobacco and nutritional deficiencies. In some cases, this manifestation depends on the use of anticoagulant or thrombolytic drugs.

Blood in saliva may also depend on gastro-oesophageal disorders of various kinds, including peptic ulcer, gastritis, varicose veins, esophagitis or neoplastic diseases. Responsible for blood spitting could also be hiatal hernia and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Bright red blood traces with cough and sputum indicate, in most cases, respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. In this context, saliva may appear tinged with blood due to an inflammatory process at the level of the mucous surfaces of the airways.

Blood in saliva can also be a consequence of embolism and pulmonary edema, tuberculosis and heart disease (including mitral stenosis, left ventricular failure, etc.). Other causes that can induce the appearance of blood traces in saliva include bronchiectasis and trauma due to inhalation of foreign bodies or airway intubation.