Hematuria is a condition in which blood appears in the urine. Hematuria can be divided into two types: gross hematuria in which blood is clearly visible in urine and microscopic hematuria in which blood is only visible under a microscope.
Gross Hematuria
The presence of red blood cells in urine gives it a reddish color. Gross hematuria typically results from problems in the lower part of the urinary tract like the prostate or urinary bladder. Causes for this type of hematuria are typically injury or infection.
Microscopic Hematuria
When there are red blood cells in urine that are only visible under a high-resolution microscope, the diagnosis is microscopic hematuria. Microscope hematuria can result from problems with any part of the urinary tract.
Symptoms
Microscopic hematuria typically does not produce any symptoms. People with gross hematuria have symptoms like red-colored urine which is due to the presence of RBCs. Any other symptoms would relate to the underlying illness. For example, if hematuria is due to a bladder infection, a person may experience difficulty urinating.
Causes
There are numerous causes of hematuria:
- Vigorous exercise or sexual activity
- Viral infection
- Kidney or uterus cancer
- Inflammation in the urethra or kidney
- Sickle cell anemia
- Hemophilia
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney stones
Diagnosis
Urinalysis is a simple and efficient tool to diagnose renal and urological diseases including hematuria. The test is aimed at detecting the peroxidase activity of RBCs. Additional blood tests can also be performed to determine underlying conditions, although this is not always necessary.
Cystoscopy is a process in which a thin tube is inserted into the urethra to look for cancerous cells in the bladder. In some cases, an intravenous pyelogram, which is an x-ray of the urinary tract, is performed to look for kidney tumors or stones which may have caused hematuria.
Treatment
The treatment of hematuria depends on the cause of blood in the urine. If hematuria is caused by a urinary tract infection, then antibiotics will be prescribed. A follow-up analysis of the urine may be done to detect the signs and symptoms of the disease and to see if the infection is gone.
Contact us
In case of urgent medical care assistance, AfterOurs Urgent Care offers immediate telemedicine services, where medical providers are available to offer assistance. Anyone who experiences signs and symptoms requiring urgent medical attention can simply book their appointment with AfterOurs Urgent Care to directly talk to an expert. If your medical issue is not appropriate for telemedicine, we will let you know and refer you to an in-person facility.
When to visit a doctor:
If you see blood in urine, you should see a medical provider in order to avoid possible serious complications.
Treatment for hematuria is available at AfterOurs Urgent Care.
For more information on hematuria, see the following website: