Blood in urine, medically termed as hematuria, is an emergency condition that may be caused by strenuous exercise, certain drugs and urinary disorders.
There are two types of hematuria; one is gross hematuria, in which blood can be seen in the urine through the naked eye. The other is microscopic hematuria, in which blood can only be seen under a microscope. This can be only detected when your doctor performs a urine test. Despite the type, it is important to recognize the cause of the bleeding to diagnose it.
Risk factors
Anyone, including young children and teenagers, can experience hematuria or blood in urine. Some of the factors that make people more susceptible to hematuria include:
- Age. People over 50 years of age suffer from hematuria due to the enlargement of the prostate gland.
- Sex. More than half of the female population is likely to suffer from urinary tract infection that may cause urinary bleeding, at least once in their lives. Whereas, younger men are more likely to suffer from kidney stones, hereditary nephritis or Alport syndrome.
- Current infections. Kidney infections that occur prior to bacterial or viral infections are one of the major causes of hematuria in children.
- Family history. People with a family history of kidney stones or kidney disease are more likely to suffer from blood in the urine than others.
- Strenuous exercise. Athletes, especially, long-distance or marathon runners are prone to urinary bleeding and is thus, also known as jogger’s hematuria. However, it is important to note that anyone who exercises vigorously may also see symptoms of the disease.
- Certain medications. Aspirin, antibiotics like penicillin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of developing hematuria.
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests play a vital role in finding the cause of hematuria:
- Physical examination. Your doctor will discuss your medical history that may explain the cause of the problem.
- Urine tests. A urine test will be conducted prior to a urinalysis that may have indicated the presence of the condition, to find out if your urine still has red blood cells that may cause the symptoms of the disease. If your blood does not contain any red blood cells in the current test, you do not require further evaluation. Moreover, urinalysis will help doctors find out if you are suffering from a urinary tract infection or if you are going to have kidney stones due to the presence of potential excreting minerals.
- Imaging. Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI and Ultrasound scans will be conducted to view the bladder and the kidneys to detect the presence of any abnormalities.
- Cystoscopy. Your doctor will insert a narrow tube with a camera into the bladder or somewhere close to the bladder and urethra to view the presence of any abnormalities.
Even with testing, the exact cause of hematuria may still not be found. Therefore, your doctor may advise further, more advanced exams, especially if he suspects that you are susceptible to bladder cancer, which can be due to the exposure to toxins in the environment, smoking and previously acquired radiation therapies.
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