[Hemoptysis: main etiologies observed in a pneumology department in Africa]

The aim of this work was to ascertain the main aetiologies of haemoptysis observed in the pneumo-phtisiology unit at the University Hospital of Treichville at Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A retrospective survey covering 5 years revealed 142 cases. The annual incidence of haemoptysis was 2.5% of the unit's admissions. The mean age of the patients was 33.2 years and 56.3% were at least 41 years of age. Men were predominate (72.5%). The haemoptysis was a sign of thoracic disease in 66.9% of the cases. The chest X-ray was judged abnormal in all the cases and suggested the aetiology in 87.3%. The main aetiologies were pulmonary tuberculosis (49.3%) and acute pneumopathy (with or without abscess) (13.3%). Other causes included bronchectasis (11.2%) and pulmonary aspergilloma (7.7%), followed by bronchogenic cancer (4.2%). The results of this study indicated that tuberculosis remains one of the main causes of haemoptysis at Abidjan.