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Haematuria
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Haematuria is the medical term for "blood in the urine". It can be visible or invisible. It can be caused by something as benign as strenuous exercise or as severe as cancer of the bladder or kidneys. Common drugs, like aspirin and NSAIDs can contribute to Hematuria that otherwise has no cause. The treatment of haematuria depends on what has caused the illness. Some causes are self limiting and need no specific treatment other than watching and waiting.
The signs of haematuria include having pink, cola-colored or red urine. This is due to red blood cells or heme pigment in the urine. It often isn't painful unless you are passing blood clots through the urethra. If it is related to an infection of some kind, there can be pain on urination and pain in the bladder or kidney area as part of the hematuria. Some hematuria is seen only under the microscope and has no visible signs whatsoever.
You should see the doctor if you note blood in the urine with or without associated pain. Even if it doesn't turn out to be serious, you should know what it comes from and understand that it isn't a big problem. If there is a big problem, you can be treated early. You need to know that certain things can cause discolored urine, including Ex-Lax, eating rhubarb, beets and berries.
Remember that the urinary tract begins with the kidneys and goes down the two ureters and into the bladder. The urine passes out of the body through the urethra. Haematuria can result in any one of the above areas of the urinary tract.
Possible causes of haematuria include urinary tract infections, which can tear up the lining of the bladder causing bleeding of the bladder. It can cause bleeding of the kidneys as well if the urinary tract infection has spread to the kidneys. Kidney infections are serious urinary tract infections and can be a common cause of haematuria. Kidney infections are called pyelonephritis.
A kidney stone or a bladder stone can irritate the lining of the urinary tract so that there is blood in the urine. The stones tend not to hurt so hematuria is the only sign of the infection. Kidney stones can be very painful if the stone is being passed through the ureters.
An enlarged prostate can partially block urine flow and can lead to haematuria. There are also problems urinating and an urgent need to urinate. If the prostate gland is infected, it is called prostatitis.
Many types of kidney diseases yield haematuria. This includes glomerulonephritis, which is triggered by a viral or strep infection, vasculitis and immune difficulties due to IgA nephropathy. Cancer of the bladder, kidney or prostate gland can have hematuria as its only sign, especially in the beginning.
Sickle cell anemia can cause blood in the urine and it can be gross or microscopic hematuria. Injury to the kidneys due to an accident or contact sports can cause haematuria. Aspirin, penicillin, heparin and Cytoxan can cause blood in the urine. Strenuous exercise causes microtrauma to the kidney or bladder and blood cells get released and broken down in the urine. Haematuria is the result.
While anyone can get haematuria, there are some risk factors for haematuria. These include being older than age 50, being male, having a urinary tract infection, a recent kidney infection causing postinfectious glomerulonephritis, and taking certain medications. Strenuous exercise can make a person at risk for haematuria.
Doctors need to do a physical examination to determine the cause of the haematuria. Urine tests can tell if there are whole blood cells or just heme in the urine. CT scans, x-rays and MRI scans can tell if there are stones or tumors in the urinary tract. A cystoscopy can look at the inside of the bladder and can see if there are sources of blood within the bladder.
Sometimes the cause of the bleeding is never discovered. It is therefore recommended that you have follow up tests to make sure that you have resolution of the bleeding.
Treatment of haematuria includes treating urinary tract infections with antibiotics, using invasive treatments to get rid of stuck kidney stones. This includes a procedure called an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, which breaks up the stones so they pass more easily. You can also have treatment for an enlarged prostate gland, including surgery to clear out the blockage the prostate gland is causing. If the cause of the haematuria is cancer, this needs appropriate cancer treatment. If you have a hereditary disorder causing haematuria, there may be no treatment necessary.