Hematuria: causes, symptoms, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is hematuria?

Hematuria is a condition of the presence of red blood cells in the urine, or what is often referred to as bloody urine. If you have hematuria, it can be a sign of various disorders in the organs in your body, especially the kidneys.

Hematuria can be divided into two types based on the amount of blood that appears in the urine, namely:

a. Gross hematuria

If you can see that your urine has turned bright red, pink, or brownish in color, this is known as a gross hematuria.

b. Microscopic hematuria

If the red blood cells in the urine cannot be seen with the naked eye and require a microscope, this is a microscopic type of hematuria.

How common is hematuria?

Hematuria is a very common condition. This disease affects women more than men and can occur in patients of any age.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hematuria?

The visible symptom of hematuria is urine that is pink, red, or brown like tea. However, if there is a blood clot in the urine, you will feel pain and pain when urinating.

In fact, not all hematuria can be detected by looking at the urine directly. In the case of microscopic hematuria, red blood cells contained in the urine can only be detected in the laboratory under a microscope.

Depending on the condition and disease that is a complication of hematuria, here are the symptoms you might feel if you suffer from the diseases below.

1. Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is a disease that attacks the glomeruli, the part of the kidney that filters blood. If the hematuria is caused by the disease, the signs and symptoms that appear are high blood pressure, swollen legs, and reduced urge to urinate.

2. Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections attack several parts of the excretory system in your body, such as the kidneys and urinary tract. Infections are usually caused by bacteria such as E. coli.

Symptoms that are usually felt are fever, back pain, chills, nausea, pain in the bladder area, smelly urine, frequent urination, and pain when urinating.

3. Kidney stones

Kidney stones are a condition caused by clumping of minerals and salts in the kidneys. This problem makes the urinary tract blocked and even injured.

Because of the injury and blockage, the urine that comes out may bleed. When you experience this condition, the symptoms you will also feel are back pain, nausea, vomiting, urinating too often, and pain when urinating.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you see an unusual color in the urine or have any other questions, consult your doctor. Also, contact your doctor or other medical professional if you have pain in your lower abdomen and have a fever.

Cause

What causes hematuria?

The presence of red blood cells in the urine is a condition that can be caused by various factors, including other diseases in the organs that the patient may suffer from.

The following are some of the causes of hematuria:

1. Urinary tract infection

Bacteria can enter the body through the urethra and stay in your bladder, causing urinary tract infections and bleeding while urinating.

2. Kidney infection

When bacteria enter the kidneys from the bloodstream or up from the ureters to the kidneys, a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) can occur. The signs and symptoms often resemble urinary infections, but they can cause fever and pelvic pain.

3. Stones in the urinary tract

Crystals can form on the walls of the kidneys or bladder as a result of the deposition of minerals in the urine. Then, the crystals transform into small stones that are generally painless and maybe not.

You are aware of it except when the stone causes a blockage or the stone comes out during urination. Bladder or kidney stones can cause bleeding when urinating.

4. Swelling of the prostate

The prostate gland, which is located below the bladder and the top of the urethra, is at risk of swelling when humans enter old age. Swelling of the prostate can put pressure on the urethra and can block urine flow, so microscopic hematuria can occur.

5. Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis causes inflammation of the filtering system of the kidneys which can lead to microscopic hematuria.

6. Cancer

Bleeding that can be seen in the urine can be a sign of serious diseases such as kidney metastases, bladder cancer, or prostate gland cancer.

7. Kidney injury

If you have an accident or exercise that is too strenuous, it can have a direct impact on your kidneys and cause gross hematuria.

8. Consumption of drugs

Taking anti-cancer drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and penicillin. These drugs can increase the risk of developing red blood cells in the urine.

Risk factors

What are the things that increase my risk for hematuria?

Actually, it is normal to have red blood cells in the urine. However, there are certain levels to be said to be normal. Well, if you experience hematuria, this is a sign that your red blood cell levels exceed these normal limits.

There are many factors that increase the risk of excess red blood cell levels in the urine, namely:

1. Age

If you are older than 50 years, you are more at risk of various complications of organs such as the prostate gland and kidney problems, so you are likely to have excess red blood cells in your urine.

2. There was an infection in the kidneys

Another risk factor for developing hematuria is inflammation of the kidneys, which is usually the result of a bacterial infection. This condition is also associated with the emergence of several diseases, such as glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis.

3. Descendants of family members

Generally, kidney disease is a condition that runs in families. So, if you have a family member with a history of kidney disease, your risk of developing this condition is higher.

4. Consumption of certain drugs

Frequent taking medications such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and long-term consumption of antibiotics can trigger hematuria.

5. Doing strenuous activities

Usually, long distance runners are prone to this condition, which is sometimes referred to as jogger's hematuria.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose hematuria?

The diagnosis is actually done to determine whether you have other problems that cause hematuria.

The diagnosis will show any abnormalities in the bladder and evaluate the work of the upper urinary system such as the kidneys and ureters, the tubes that carry urine to the bladder.

Before that, of course the medical personnel will take and examine the urine sample first. After it is proven that there are abnormal levels of red blood cells in the urine, the doctor will ask you and your family's medical history.

Usually the questions asked will be related to kidney disease, bladder problems, or unusual bleeding.

In addition, the doctor will also ask you about the symptoms you are experiencing, including pain and the need to urinate too often.

The urine sample taken will be checked for how much protein, white blood cells, and red blood cells are in it, to check for diseases related to hematuria, such as urinary tract infections or kidney inflammation.

Some additional tests may be done to find out more about the cause of hematuria. Additional tests include:

• Urine culture: This process is done to check for bacteria growing in the urine. This test usually aims to check for urinary tract or kidney infections.
• Phase – contrast microscopy to help locate the source of bleeding.
• Imaging examinations: the doctor will perform various tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI to further diagnose.
• Cystoscopy: the doctor will sew a thin tube with a camera on the bladder to check for signs of disease in the bladder and urethra.

Calculation of risk factors for further tests

As already mentioned, the condition of hematuria can arise from severe diseases such as cancer of the urinary system. For this reason, follow-up tests performed on each patient can vary depending on how at risk the patient is for the disease.

The doctor will look at your medical history, find out what medical actions you have done before. In addition, there are guidelines for the level of risk that can be a measure of how likely you are to develop cancer of the urinary system.

Some of the risk levels that guide you are smoking history, age, other symptoms you feel, gender, family medical history, or if you have used a catheter in the urinary tract for a long time.

If the patient's risk is low, the option may be to repeat the urine test within six months. If the test does not show blood, the patient only needs to pay attention to any symptoms that are felt. Meanwhile, if the test shows blood, the patient must do further tests.

In patients with medium risk, patients will be recommended to undergo a cystoscopy or ultrasound procedure to view the bladder and kidneys.

In high-risk patients, patients should undergo tests with a cystoscope and CT scan. A CT scan will more clearly find problems with the kidneys and ureters that may have been missed while undergoing an ultrasound.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat hematuria?

Treatment given for hematuria sufferers depends on the results of the diagnosis. The presence of red blood cells in the urine is not the main disease, but a sign of other diseases that attack the organs of the body.

If you have a urinary tract infection, to help alleviate the effects and symptoms, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics.

If you have kidney or bladder stones, your doctor will recommend wave therapy in shock. This therapy is one of the most effective and common ways to remove kidney stones and reduce the symptoms of hematuria.

Prevention

What are some lifestyle changes that can be made to prevent hematuria?

To prevent the appearance of excess red blood cells in the urine, you can change your routine and try a healthy lifestyle. Here are various ways you can prevent hematuria:

Drink lots of water

Fulfill your body's fluid needs by diligently drinking water. Make sure you always drink water according to your body's needs, so you can avoid kidney stones, which can cause red blood cells in your urine.

You should also start now to limit your consumption of alcohol and other colored drinks. If you drink this type of drink too often, your kidneys will work even harder. If it continues to occur, it will interfere with kidney function and possibly increase the risk of hematuria.

Limit your intake of salt, protein and foods that contain oxalates

A study shows that excess oxalate content in food, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, can increase the risk of developing kidney stones.

Choose safe feminine products

Avoid feminine cleaning products that can irritate the female area. Feminine soap on the market can cause bacteria to appear in the vaginal area and trigger urinary tract infections.

Quit smoking

Substances contained in cigarettes can trigger hematuria and increase the risk of cancers of the reproductive and urinary systems.

Apply a healthy diet

Replacing your daily diet with nutritious and nutritious ingredients will have a major impact on your overall health, including reducing the risk of excess levels of red blood cells in your urine.

Get regular exercise

Exercise can help increase metabolism and keep your organs functioning properly, including the excretion process in your body.

If you experience certain symptoms or are confused about your current health condition, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.