 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
| It is very important to understand that whenever there is blood in your urine, you have to be evaluated as soon as possible. Causes can range from a very benign etiology to a very serious malignancy. The genitourinary tract contains your kidneys, ureters (the tubes that carry the urine from the kidney to the bladder), prostate gland (in men) the bladder and the urethra ( the tube that carries the urine from the bladder out of the body. Hematuria is the presence of blood, specifically red blood cells, in the urine. Whether the blood is visible only under a microscope or visible to the naked eye, hematuria is a sign that something is causing bleeding. Bleeding may happen once or it may be recurrent. It can indicate different problems in men and women. Causes of this condition range from non?life threatening (e.g., urinary tract infection) to serious (e.g., cancer, kidney disease). Therefore, a physician should be consulted as soon as possible. What types of Hematuria are there? There are two types of hematuria, microscopic and gross (or macroscopic). In microscopic hematuria, the amount of blood in the urine is so small that it can be seen only under a microscope. A small number of people experience microscopic hematuria that has no discernible cause (idiopathic hematuria). These people normally excrete a higher number of red blood cells. In gross hematuria the urine is pink, red, or dark brown and may contain small blood clots. The amount of blood in the urine does not necessarily indicate the seriousness of the underlying problem. As little as 1 milliliter (0.03 ounces) of blood will turn the urine red. "Joggers hematuria" results from repeated jarring of the bladder during jogging or long-distance running. Reddish urine that is not caused by blood in the urine is called pseudohematuria. Excessive consumption of beets, berries, or rhubarb; food coloring; and certain laxatives and pain medications can produce pink or reddish urine. What causes Hematuria? Several conditions can cause hematuria. Most of the causes are not serious. For example, exercise may cause hematuria that goes away in 24 hours. Many people have hematuria without having any other related problems. But because hematuria may be the result of a tumor or other serious problem, a doctor should be consulted. What types of tests will need to be performed? In order to find the cause of hematuria, or to rule out certain causes, the doctor may order a series of tests, including urinalysis, blood tests, intravenous pyelogram, and cystoscopic examination. Urinalysis is the examination of urine for various cells and chemicals. In addition to finding RBCs, the doctor may find white blood cells that signal a urinary tract infection or casts (groups of cells molded together in the shape of the kidneys' tiny filtering tubes) that signal kidney disease. Excessive protein in the urine also signals poor kidney function. Blood tests may reveal kidney disease if the blood contains high levels of wastes that the kidneys are supposed to remove. An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an x-ray of the urinary tract. An IVP may reveal a tumor, a kidney or bladder stone, an enlarged prostate, or other blockage to the normal flow of urine. A cystoscope can be used to take pictures of the inside of the bladder. It has a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube, which is inserted through the urethra. A cystoscope may provide a better view of a tumor or bladder stone than can be seen with an IVP. Treatment for hematuria depends on the cause. If no serious condition is causing the hematuria, no treatment is necessary.
|
 |
|
 |
||||