Hematuria

Hematuria



Hematuria is a serious clinical condition in which blood starts appearing in the urine. Hematuria is derived from heme (blood) and uria (urine). The condition can either be gross in which blood can be seen with naked eyes or microscopic in which a very tiny amount of blood appears in the urine.

CAUSES OF HEMATURIA

Hematuria is an indication of some serious infection or some other deleterious process going inside the body. The infection of urinary tract is the commonest finding related to the presence of blood in urine. Some suspected causes are:

  • Kidney Cancer

  • Bladder cancer

  • Prostate Cancer

  • Urethral Cancer

  • Urinary Stone Disease

  • Urinary Tract Infection

  • Pyelonephritis (Kidney Infection)

  • Renal (Kidney) Disease

  • Ureteral Cancer

  • Radiation or Chemical Induced Cystitis (Bladder Irritation)

  • Injury to the Urinary Tract

  • Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (Enlarged Prostate)

  • Exercise Hematuria

  • Prostatitis (Prostate Infection)

  • Drugs toxicity like aspirin overdose

SYMPTOMS OF HEMATURIA

  • The most common symptoms that points towards hematuria is the red urine.

  • Urination can also be very painful if the blood clots have entered the urinary tract. Painful micturition is an uncommon sign but it is a severe complication.

  • In most of the clinical cases, patient presents with only discolored urine without any pain on urination. Pain can also radiate into the abdomen if kidney or its related structures (ureters) are involved.

Symptoms may vary depending upon the basic cause of hematuria.

DIAGNOSIS OF HEMATURIA

There are several ways to confirm hematuria and factor that causes it. Some of main methods are:

  • General Physical Examination.

  • Lab tests.

  • CT scan.

  • Blood Test.

TREATMENT OF HEMATURIA

Treatment options for hematuria depend on the cause of the disorder and are applied accordingly.

  • In case of urinary tract infection, antibiotics are the best treatment. Symptoms usually disappear within a week.

  • Kidney or bladder stores are destroyed either by medication or using laser techniques. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also available options. Dialysis may also be required in case of kidney problem.

  • Surgical treatment may become necessary in removing cancerous masses in urinary tract.