ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Blood in the urine (hematuria)

What is Blood in the urine (hematuria)?

21:55 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

The presence of blood in the urine or hematuria is due to the fact that, because of some kidney abnormality or some other area of the urinary tract, there is a blood filtering in the urinary flow, the most frequent causes being:

  • Kidney or bladder stones.
  • Prostatitis.
  • Kidney ailments.
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • Pyelonephritis.
  • Kidney trauma.
  • Anticoagulants intake.
  • Excessive physical activity.
  • Prostate, kidney, or bladder cancer.
  • Hereditary conditions

There are two types of hematuria:

  • Macroscopic: when it is possible to see the blood present in the urine.
  • Microscopic: when it is not possible to see the blood with the naked eye, so a microscope analysis is necessary.

In both cases, it is crucial to identify the origin to treat the direct cause as soon as possible.

Signs and symptoms Blood in the urine (hematuria)

Microscopic hematuria does not usually show symptoms, while in macroscopic the urine is stained in pink and red tones, being painless most of the time, unless there are blood clots that make urination painful.

Diagnosis and treatment Blood in the urine (hematuria)

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination that will help them see indications of the possible cause of hematuria, however, various tests will be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, such as:

  • Urine tests to establish the presence of blood, infections, or possible kidney stones.
  • Cystoscopy.
  • Ultrasound.
  • MRI.
  • Computed tomography.

If the tests do not detect any disease, it will be necessary to perform periodic tests to monitor the condition until it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and treat the cause. The treatment to follow depends on the origin of hematuria:

  • Kidney or urinary tract infections:
    • Antibiotics
    • Anti-inflammatories.
  • Prostatitis:
    • Anti-inflammatories.
    • Surgery.
  • Kidney or bladder stones:
    • Laser or shock wave lithotripsy.

At the ABC Medical Center Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, of chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Fuentes:

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • topdoctors.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Salabarría GJR, Herrera FC, González RA, et al. Incidencia de hipercalciuria e hiperuricosuria en pacientes pediátricos con sintomatología nefrourológica. Cuba y Salud. 2021;16(1):22-26.
  • Paz-Montañez JJ, Mueses-Guerrero Y, Restrepo-Restrepo JM, et al. Hematuria en la niñez: revisión sistemática cualitativa. Medicina & Laboratorio. 2017;23(07-08):351-364.
  • Salvador-Marín J, Izquierdo-Plazas L, Ausina-Gómez S, et al. Hematuria como primer signo del condrosarcoma de pelvis. Acta Ortop Mex. 2020;34(5):313-318. doi:10.35366/97995.
  • Hernández-Estrada S. Nivel de la tasa de filtrado glomerular para iniciar el protocolo de trasplante, evaluación de urolitiasis, proteinuria y hematuria en el receptor de trasplante renal. Rev Mex Traspl. 2020;9(Suppl: 1):35-40. doi:10.35366/93483.

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